STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: After a consultative meeting with executive body, President Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), Gulchain Singh Charak wholeheartedly welcomed J&K Government’s decision to enhance annuity grant to the Gallantry award winners of the Union Territory, saying that the enhancement has come about after a gap of 15 years as against other States/UTs revising the grants every two years. “It was a long pending repeated demand of the DSS on behalf of this very distinguished class of gallantry award winners, who by nature are selfless, sacrificing and more duty oriented than privileges. DSS also appreciated the earlier decision to enhance the ex-gratia payments to War Widows of the UT from 5 to 25 Lakh, who were being paid miserably lower than their counterparts in the rest of the country. The two decisions have brought in a feeling of getting closer to the rest of the nation,” he added.
The Executive body took special note of the tireless efforts of their members especially Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, VrC, Director, War Decorated (India) and other members of Ex-servicemen cell of DSS for their efforts and raising this issue time and again at various forums. “Closely connected with this is our pending demand of building an appropriate War Memorial on the banks of Dal Lake as a tribute to the well over 5K fallen Indian heroes from throughout the country, in protection and defense of J&K. The UT cannot ever repay for their supreme sacrifices but, in the least, give them the due honour and remember them for which every peace loving citizen of J&K will remain ever obliged to them. Their families are among the ‘real stake holders’ in the UT and should be offered domicile rights. Theirs is the biggest and most precious stake for this crown of India. The proposed National War Memorial will enhance National Spirit, become source of inspiration for the coming generations and be a tourism attraction for all the families and relatives of the fallen heroes to visit on their anniversaries to perform tributes related rituals,” said Charak.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Col Karan Singh Vice President, Col Dr Virendara K Sahi VrC Convenor Media Cell, Gambir Dev Singh Charak Incharge Youth Wing , Amanat Ali Shah Joint Secretary and Chander Mohan Sharma Media Secretary.
