GNS JAMMU, MARCH : - Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, and Mr. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, today called for conducting a district wise survey of ex-Servicemen to assess their number and the area-specific requirements for enlarging their rehabilitation and welfare.
The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the 74th meeting of the J&K Rajya Sainik Board, at Raj Bhavan, here today.
The Governor, chairing the meeting, observed that such a survey would facilitate a meaningful review and prioritization of the ongoing schemes and re-orienting them, as required, for enhancing the welfare of the ex-Servicemen and their families.
Emphasizing the need for taking all required measures for re-orienting and upgrading the skills and capacities of ex-Servicemen, the Governor observed that this would enhance their employability and placements in the job market. He observed that the State has a significant population of ex-Servicemen who possess valuable experience, skills and technical expertise in different fields, adding that this potential needs to be gainfully exploited for the overall benefit of the society at large. He noted that, to secure this objective, an appropriate mechanism could be put in place for providing counseling to the ex-Servicemen.
Referring to the vast growth potential in the various sectors of the State’s economy for generating wealth and employment avenues, the Governor said that the ex-Servicemen, like other unemployed persons, could go in for setting up units in poultry, dairy and fish farming, sheep and goat rearing, mushroom cultivation and floriculture. He said that all these sectors have a ready market and the ex-Servicemen should be encouraged to form cooperative units for securing assured economic returns.
While taking stock of the pace of progress on the construction of Sainik Bhawans at various places in the State, the Governor stressed their time bound completion to avoid time and cost over-runs and for early providing this facility to the ex-Servicemen.
Mr. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, said that he had ordered the creation of a Special Cell in the State Home Department to coordinate further action on all issues relating to ex-Servicemen, for securing their improved welfare.
The Rajya Sainik Board reviewed in detail the progress made in regard to the construction of Sainik Bhawans at Srinagar, Jammu, Rajouri, Kargil and Kupwara. The acquisition of land for Sainik Welfare Housing Colonies also came under review at the meeting.
The Governor thanked the Chief Minister for enabling timely decisions in regard to various pending issues and for setting up a Special Cell in the State Home Department to look after the welfare of the ex-Servicemen and observed that this should be recorded in the proceedings of the Board’s meeting.
Later, the Governor chaired the meeting of the State Managing Committee for Funds, and focused on the budgetary support being provided by the State Government to the Department of Sainik Welfare, as also the contribution of the Kendriya Sainik Board to the J&K Rajya Sainik Board. He emphasized the need for evolving appropriate strategies for enhancing the mobilization and collection of funds at all levels, for maximizing the welfare of ex-Servicemen and their families.
The meeting among others was attended by Mr. R. S. Chib, Minister for Youth Services and Sports; Mr. Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue; Mr. Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary, Finance; Mr. Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Lt. Gen. B. S. Pama, Chief of Staff, Northern Command; Maj. Gen. Pramod Behl, Director General Resettlement, New Delhi; Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Secretary, General Administration; Comdr H. C. Sharma, Joint Director, Kendriya Sainik Board, New Delhi; Brig. Biswajeet Mukherjee from 15 Corps; Brig. Pankaj Saxena, 26 Div; Brig. Suresh Menon, 16 Corps; Col. J. S. Chauhan, Director, Resettlement, Zone North; Mr. A. A. Khan, Additional Secretary, Home; Maj. Gen. (Retd) G. S. Jamwal, President, J&K Ex-Services League; and non-official members, Lt Cdr (Retd) J. P. Kotwal; Hony Capt Bana Singh; Hony Capt Sohan Singh and Mr. B. S. Slathia, Advocate, President Bar Association, Jammu besides other official and non-official members.
A detailed power point presentation was made by Brig. (Retd) R. S. Langeh, Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, on the occasion, detailing the measures taken for the welfare of the Ex-Servicemen, financial status of the Board, construction of Sainik Bhawans and the implementation of the various decisions taken in the last meeting of the Board.
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