Garhwal Post Bureau
Kotdwar, 19 Jul: State Soldier Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi on Sunday said patriotism is embedded in the DNA of Uttarakhand, highlighting the state’s rich military tradition while addressing a Veer Sainik Samman Samaroh organised on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Kotdwar.
Speaking at the event chaired by Assembly Speaker and local MLA Ritu Khanduri Bhushan and attended by Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj, Joshi said he always meets serving and retired soldiers not as a minister but as a brother and son, acknowledging that his own military background had played a key role in shaping his life.
He said Uttarakhand has contributed among the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces, with around 17.5 per cent of its people serving on the nation’s frontiers.
The minister said the Narendra Modi-led government had taken several landmark decisions for the welfare of the armed forces, including the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), construction of the National War Memorial, increased defence spending and strengthened infrastructure in border areas. He added that the Uttarakhand government had also enhanced ex-gratia assistance for the families of martyrs and increased one-time and annual financial awards for recipients of gallantry honours ranging from the Param Vir Chakra to Mention-in-Dispatches.
Joshi said the state government has provided government jobs to the family members of 28 martyrs and extended the application period for compassionate appointments from two years to five years. He also highlighted the provision of free travel on state transport buses for gallantry award winners and ex-servicemen, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare and dignity of soldiers, veterans and their families.
During the programme, Joshi honoured ex-servicemen, war widows and mothers of martyrs, and released the book Kanvashram (Bharat Se Bharatvarsh) authored by senior journalist Manoj Ishtwal.
Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri and Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj also addressed the gathering. The event was attended by Mayor Shailendra Singh Rawat, BJP district president Raj Gaurav Nautiyal, retired Lt Gen Jaiveer Singh Negi, and a large number of ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, Veer Matas and local residents.
