Schemes should reach ex-service men: Governor

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 28: The 46th meeting of the State Maging Committee (SMC) under the chairmanship of Governor Banwarilal Purohit was held at Sainik Bhawan, Guwahati today.

The meeting was attended by Assam Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, 3 Corps Headquarters Maj Gen AK Pattaik, 4 Corps Maj Gen Ravi Prasad, GOC 51 Sub Area Maj Gen A K Jha and representatives from the from the Ministry of Defence, New Delhi and a large number of senior officers from Army and Civil administration.

Commodore Kamalesh Chandra Choudhury (retd) Director, Sainik Welfare, Assam  gave a power-point presentation on the activities of the Sainik Board during 2010-2016.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor conveyed his appreciation to the Government for supporting the Ex-Service Men Community. He also made a fervent appeal to all to come forward and dote generously to the cause of ex-service men. He further requested the Chief Secretary to instruct the deputy commissioners to gear up the Flag Day collection as these amounts are utilized for the welfare activities of ex-service men and war widows.

Purohit also asked the Sainik Welfare Board to give proper publicity of the existing government educatiol and other schemes so that the ex-service men and their dependant can make the optimum utilization of the schemes. He also emphasized the need for a skilled development centres in Assam for ex-service men.

During the meeting the Director, Sainik Welfare, Assam  gave a presentation highlighting the steps taken to revitalize the Sainik Board and its achievements during 2010-2015. He also mentioned that the renovations of the Sainik Rest Houses at Dhubri,  Diphu have been completed. The Sainik Rest houses at Silchar and Mangaldoi were iugurated and the construction of the Rest Houses at Halflong and Jorhat are at the fil stages and would be ready for iuguration by December-end.

The Sainik Board has also set up five more Zila Sainik offices totaling 19 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 Grievance Redressal Mechanism for the Defence personnel under the respective DCs in every district headquarters. During the last five years, the Sainik Board had provided support and assistance to 41,506 individuals from the Ex-Servicemen Community, out of which 8,602 were for the last year.

The Director further stated that the construction of the War Memorial at the North Bank of Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati is completed against a cost of Rs. 7.50 crore and was iugurated by Assam Chief Minister on August 15, 2016.