‘An Evening for Soldiers’ event held at Raj Bhawan
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 14th Jan: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in “An Evening for Soldiers” programme organised by the Soldiers’ Welfare Department at Raj Bhawan, on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on Tuesday. During the event, the Governor and Chief Minister honoured gallantry award winners and distinguished veterans. The Governor also presented appreciation certificates to personnel from the paramilitary forces.
The Kumaon Scouts, 4th Battalion Assam Regiment, and 14th Rajputana Rifles were also honoured with Unit Appreciation Certificates for their commendable contributions.
Lt Gen Singh emphasised that the experience and leadership of veterans are invaluable assets to the nation, and their lives exemplify discipline, leadership, and patriotism, serving as inspiration for current and future generations. He urged the veterans to help society and the nation reach new heights with their experiences and contribute to the goal of a developed India by 2047.
The Governor also encouraged veterans to explore opportunities in entrepreneurship and startups. He assured that the state government would ensure proper management of health services, ECHS benefits, and other necessary facilities for the families of martyrs, vowing to provide unwavering support to them in all circumstances.
Lt Gen Singh noted that Uttarakhand is a land of heroes, known not only as “Dev Bhoomi” but also as “Veer Bhoomi”. Many brave sons of this land have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation. The event was a small effort to express gratitude to these heroes, sending a message that their sacrifice is invaluable not only to us but also to future generations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, being the son of a soldier, shared his personal connection with the armed forces and expressed that he always feels at home in the presence of soldiers. He thanked the Governor, Lt Gen Singh, for his initiative in organising the event at Raj Bhavan.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Uttarakhand is renowned not only as the land of Gods but also as a land of heroes, with unparalleled contributions of its soldiers to the glorious history of the Indian Army. He reminded that the brave sons of Uttarakhand have always shown that the state can not only guide the world towards peace but also display valour when needed. It is a matter of pride that Uttarakhand, a small state, has honoured approximately 1,834 soldiers with gallantry awards, and this number continues to rise every year.
Dhami also commended the continuous efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of soldiers and veterans, citing the implementation of the “One Rank, One Pension” scheme that strengthened the economic position and dignity of veterans. As a soldier’s son, the Chief Minister expressed his deep understanding of the challenges faced by the families of martyrs and assured that the state government is committed to doing everything possible for their welfare. In line with this, the government has increased the ex-gratia amount for the families of martyrs from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs.
Additionally, the Chief Minister shared that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in Uttarakhand this month, and the National Games would begin on 28 January, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event. Around 10,000 athletes from across the country will participate in the games. He also appealed to the people of the state to warmly welcome the athletes and those associated with the event, further strengthening the state’s cultural and hospitality traditions.
The event also featured speeches by Soldiers’ Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi, who provided insights into the welfare schemes offered by the department, and Secretary, Soldiers’ Welfare, Deepender Chaudhary, who welcomed all attendees. First Lady Gurmeet Kaur, Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, IG, ITB,P Sanjay Gunjyal, Director, Soldiers’ Welfare, Brigadier Amrit Lal, and a large number of serving and retired soldiers were also present at the event.
Major Govind Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Shashi Bhushan, Commodore Hanish Singh Karki, Colonel Piyush Bhatt, Colonel Aishwarya Joshi, Major Shivam Gupta, Major Prateek Bisht, Captain Akshat Upadhyay, Major Saurabh Thapa, Major Manik Sati, Major Prakash Bhatt, Major Rohit Joshi, Naib Subedar Rajendra Prasad, Naib Subedar Pankaj Singh Jhinkwan, Havildar Govind Singh, Naik Lalit Mohan Singh, Naik Deepak Singh, Naib Subedar Pawan Sawant, Retired Soldiers Naik Vinod Kumar and Lance Naik Rajesh Semwal, along with Soldiers Welfare Department’s Subedar Major Mohan Lal Bhatt and Hemchand Choubey were those felicitated on the occasion.
The Paramilitary Forces Personnel felicitated were Head Constable Kapil Dev and Constable Ahongshagbam Nanow Devi from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sub-Inspector Navjyoti Manral, Head Constable Avnish Kumar Singh, and Constable Yogindra Ramchandra Raut from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Inspector Birendra Singh and Havildar Anita Rana from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
