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Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, January 21
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said Rs 9 crore had been sanctioned for the construction of a war museum in Dharamsala.
At the meeting of the Ex-servicemen Kalyan Board today, he said the state was proud of its soldiers. “They sacrifice their present for the future of others. Fifteen per cent reservation is being given to the retired soldiers, war widows, disabled soldiers and their wards in government jobs,” Virbhadra said.
The Chief Minister said 1,400 ex-servicemen had been given jobs in the last four years. A grant of Rs 5.21 crore was given under different bravery awards to beneficiaries. He said priority was being given to settle the issues related to the serving and ex-servicemen. The Chief Minister assured them of remaining sympathetic to their demands.
Earlier, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said society would remain grateful to the soldiers both serving and retired. Issues like exemption from tax at toll barriers, opening of a CSD depot in Una district, allocation of funds for parks built in war memorials, repair and renovation of existing Sainik Rest Houses and construction of such rest houses in Rohru, filling of posts reserved for ex-servicemen, exemption in civil qualification on the basis of courses accomplished in the Army, allocation of land for centres to be set up for the community, enhancement of grant under Kirti Chakra on a par with Maha Vir Chakra and extension of transport facility to gallantry award winners in Volvo and deluxe were discussed at the meeting. ACS Tarun Shridhar and RD Dhiman were present on the occasion.