47th SMC meeting : Governor Jagdish Mukhi lauds Defence personnel for securing integrity

Guwahati, Oct 5: The 47th meeting of State Managing Committee (SMC) under the Chairmanship of Governor of Assam Prof Jagdish Mukhi was held at Sainik Bhawan, Directorate of Sainik Welfare Guwahati today.

Deliberating at the meeting, the Governor Jagdish Mukhi said, “It is a unique opportunity to chair the State Managing Committee Meeting of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund that deals with issues related to welfare and rehabilitation of our veterans, war widows, war heroes, disabled soldiers and their dependents. I pay my tribute to all those Armed Forces Personal who laid down their lives in defense of our mother land. I also convey my gratitude to our Defence service veterans and serving personnel for effectively securing the territorial integrity”.

Prof Jagdish Mukhi also said that the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Assam is doing an outstanding work by reaching out to 35,000 plus veterans and approximately more than double the number of dependents for redressal of their grievances. He further said that the government is committed to the welfare of the soldiers and their welfare and well-being. He also said that it is the national responsibility to take care of the veterans and their families.

The Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Assam therefore should continue to strive to ensure the valuable support to our ESM Community. He also exhorted the need of extending the fruits of government schemes to the benefits of ex-service men and their dependents. He also said that it is praiseworthy to learn that the Army personnel in the state are also contributing in their own possible way to ensure welfare of the veterans.

During the meeting, Brigadier ND Joshi, SM (Retd) Director, Directorate of Sainik Welfare highlighted the important steps taken to revitalize the Sainik Board and its achievements during the tenure of the present Governor.

It may be noted that the Sainik Board has 19 Zila Sainik Welfare Offices to cover 27 districts of Assam. The other districts will be covered in phases. The Director further stated that the government of Assam has set up a Grievance Redressal Mechanism for Defence Personnel under the respective DC’s in every district headquarters.

During the last two years, the Sainik Board had provided support and assistance to 41,506 individuals from the ex-Servicemen community. The Budgetary allocation towards scholarship and other welfare schemes has also gone up from Rs.3.0 lac in 2008-09 to Rs. 1.50 crore today, enabling grant of 5,705 scholarships to the students.

The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, GOC, 51 Sub Area Maj Gen Arun Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Kamrup (M) Virendra Mittal, representative from the Kendriya Sainik Board, Director General of Resettlement, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi and senior officers from the Army and Civil administration.