By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 21 Feb: The Uttarakhand government has taken a significant decision in favour of the families of martyred soldiers. Dependants of martyrs will now have five years instead of two to apply for government jobs on a compassionate basis. This proposal was approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 19 February under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.
In a press note released to the media, Sainik Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi has expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the entire Cabinet. He stated that under the state government’s policy, dependants from 27 families of martyred soldiers have already been provided government jobs on compassionate grounds. The new policy will offer relief to even more families in the future, enabling them to secure employment in government services. He added that this decision reflects the government’s sensitivity and respect for the families of martyrs. Not only will this decision provide financial support to these families, but it will also offer them an opportunity to lead a dignified life in society.
It is worth mentioning that the Uttarakhand Government issued a notification on 20 November 2018, allowing compassionate appointments in government services for families of soldiers from Uttarakhand martyred while in service in the Indian Army and paramilitary forces. Under this policy, two posts each in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories were created in district magistrates’ offices. According to the previous rules, dependants of martyred soldiers had to apply to the District Sainik Welfare and Rehabilitation Office within two years from the date of issue of the Battle Casualty Certificate. However, many families were unable to apply within this timeframe and were thus deprived of the scheme’s benefits.
The families of martyred soldiers often take a long time to recover from the emotional trauma of losing their loved ones. During this period, they struggle to complete administrative procedures and miss the application deadline. Additionally, in many cases, the children of martyrs are too young to be eligible for jobs within two years. Keeping these issues in mind, Chief Minister Dhami announced on Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July 2024, that the deadline would be extended to five years. Now, with the Cabinet’s approval, this rule has been officially implemented.
