Governor Shekhar Dutt on Thursday chaired the 8th meeting of the ‘Amalgamated Special Fund’ created for rehabilitation of ex-servicemen under the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Directorate at Raj Bhavan here.

The members in the meeting took an in-principle decision to hike the grant offered for marriage of daughters of ex-servicemen and widows which would be reviewed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) who would also determine the grant to be offered to the recipients. Several other in-principle decisions were also taken in the meeting such as grant for cremation purposes, enhancement of medical services to ex-servicemen of the World War II or their widows besides an honorarium for aged Ex-servicemen which would also be reviewed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for the determination of the grant to be offered to the recipients.

The meeting on Thursday was presided over by Director, Sainik Welfare Board Brigadier (Retd) JK Deosthale.

On the occasion, the Governor said that one needs to work with ‘an open mind and a large heart’  for the welfare of the Ex-servicemen. He said that the people in the Armed forces were very technology friendly, which made them experts in their fields. The Governor stressed the need for proactive steps required for seeking specialised services of Ex-servicemen for industrial security while expressing the need for regular holding of meetings of the officials of various government departments, Ex servicemen Welfare Board and the Directorate General Rehabilitation.

Dutt suggested on opening the second Sainik School in Ambikapur while also stressing on the need for new rest houses for Ex-servicemen in all district headquarters.