File Photo: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today announced that a committee would be formed to identify land for construction of a war memorial in the state.
A three-member committee would be formed under the chairmanship of state Soldier Welfare Minister Harak Singh Rawat, the Chief Minister said.
Two other members of the committee will be Soldier Welfare Board President Gambhir Singh Negi and Principal Secretary Ravishanker.
He was speaking after paying tributes to Kargil martyrs at a programme organised on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
"If suitable land is not identified for the proposed war memorial, then the state government is prepared to buy it," Mr Rawat said, adding that even though the state has limited resources, it has immense respect for jawans.
He said that it has been decided to make Soldier Welfare Board an autonomous body with its president having the status of a Cabinet Minister to help it perform better for the well being of the serving and also former jawans from the state.
"The state government would request the Centre to implement One Rank One Pension (OROP). Also, war widows and children of disabled soldiers studying at IIT, MBBS and IMA would get an yearly assistance of Rs 1 lakh," Mr Rawat said.
Harak Singh, who was also present at the programme, said Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Ltd. (UPNL) working for the well-being of jawans are building hostels for free accommodation of war widows and martyrs' children.