PUNJAB to setup State-of-the-Art War Heroes Memorial at Amritsar

Chandigarh, March 10, 2013:The Punjab Government would setup a state-of-the-art War Heroes Memorial at Amritsar for which a concept committee to be constituted soon.

An announcement to this effect was made by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during Triennial National Convention-cum-Reunion (TNC) organized by The War Decorated India (WDI) here in the auditorium of Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10 today.

While addressing a galaxy of the bravest of the brave- war decorated heroes, Veer Naris and next of kin of posthumous awardees across the country belonging to all the three Defence Services and Para Military Forces, Badal said that the SAD-BJP government was fully committed for the welfare of the serving defense personnel and ex-servicemen  because he personally believe that the persons who had rendered exemplary services and even sacrificed their lives to safeguard the interests of the Nation must be responded back by the government in a better way. It was our bounded duty to take care of our Veterans and Veer Naris across the country especially our soldiers who had been honoured with the highest gallantry awards like Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra.

The upcoming War Memorial would be a tribute to our brave sons of the soil for their unmatched valor in different battles from 1948 J&K Ops to 1999 Kargil Ops, said Badal, further adding that for this he had personally asked the three Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force to provide vital inputs. Mr. Badal said that to perpetuate the rich legacy of the countless freedom fighters, patriots and martyrs from Punjab during the Indian independence movement the state government had already working on the  plan to set up a world class ‘Jang-e-Azaadi’ memorial at Kartarpur near Jalandhar.  Expressing satisfaction, the Chief Minister said that he was sure that both these upcoming memorials would play a vital role and act as a beacon light to acquaint our younger generations about the saga of great sacrifices made by Punjabis.

Expressing great pride over the excellent contribution made by Punjab in the defence services, Badal said that at present our government’s Welfare Plans were working for about three lac ex-servicemen/widows and approximately 60 lacs soldiers from all the 3 wings of Armed Forces. He further said that the state government hadtaken many path breaking initiatives in this direction like making budgetary provision of Rs. 24 crore in the current fiscal year to ensure the welfare works, financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh to the widows of the martyrs to purchase house/plot, doubled the financial assistance under Jangi-Jagir from Rs. 5000 to Rs 10000 besides, making adequate provisions for other monetary benefits, grants, old age pensions, self-employment through technical coaching and jobs to them through 13% reservation quota in Punjab and PSUs in the State.

The Chief Minister also announced that state government would soon made adequate enhancement in the allowances for gallantry awardees.

Expressing concern over the present scenario of reducing number of Punjabis in defence services, Badal said that the Recruitment  Policy on the bases of population adopted by the Government of India was not justified in case of Punjab even than the state government was striving hard to motivate Punjabi youth to join defence services through establishing Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution Mohali, 16 C-PYTE Centres, reviving the Sri Dasmesh Academy at Anandpur Sahib, Naval NCC Unit at Bathinda besides establishing two NCC academies one at Rupnagar over an area of 9 acre at a cost of Rs 9 crore for boys and otherat Malout over an area of 6 acre at a cost of Rs 9.80 crore for the girls. Both the academies would impart NCC tranning to about 55 thousand cadets every year and motivate them to join the Army, Navy and Air Force.

On the occasion the Chief Minister honored the gallantry awardees, Veer Naris and next of kin of posthumous awardees along with two living legends Parmam Vir Chakra Hony. Capt. Bana Singh and Hav. Sanjay Kumar  and announced a grant of Rs. 50 Lac to the War Decorated India (WDI) besides, free Education of the grandsons of Sepoy Babu Singh VrC. Badal also asked the WDI to prepare a fresh list of the war widows so that a welfare plan could be chalked out accordingly.

Earlier, President of the War Decorated India, Brigadier NS Sandhu, MVC in his welcome address said that their organization was an apolitical organization with a single aim of bringing all Vir Chakra series of War gallantry awardees together for mutual welfare and advancement of their common interests.

Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Defence Services Welfare Virsa Singh Valtoha, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Air Marshal Randhir Singh PVSM, AVSM, VrC Brig. Sant Singh, MVC and BAR, Maj. Gen. Lachhman Singh Lehl, PVSM, VrC, Cmde. KP Gopal Rao, MVC, VSM,IN, Capt. Reet MP Singh, VrC, Lt. Col HIS Dhaliwal, VrC besides other Ex-servicemen,war decorated heroes Veer Naris, next of kin of posthumous awardees and government officers.