Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Thursday offered all support and cooperation including land to the Army for the setting up of armed forces preparatory institute in the state so that maximum youth could join the armed forces.
Though Haryana has a sizeable contribution in the armed forces of the country, efforts are being made to increase it beyond the 10 per cent, said Manohar Lal while speaking at the Civil Military Liaison Conference here.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command Lt. General Surinder Singh, Chief of Staff Western Command PM Bali and other senior officers of the State Government and Army were also present at the conference.
While describing Haryana as the state of ‘Jawan and Kisan’, he said that at present the contribution of Haryana in the Armed Forces of the country is over nine per cent which is significant but we want to further raise it.
To achieve this, we are ready to give all support including the land to Army for the setting up of a preparatory institute in the state. Recently, the village panchayat Khanda in district Sonipat has offered 50 acres of land for the setting up of Armed forces’ preparatory institute, he added.
Highlighting the significance of Civil Military Liaison Conference, he said that this is the fourth annual conference being organized during the present State Government. The Army plays a vital role in the security and sovereignty of the country and therefore their liaison with the civil society is important. The conference provides a common platform to discuss and resolve various issues between the army and the civil administration, he said.
Recalling his visit to Israel, Manohar Lal said that it is mandatory for every youth in Israel to spent atleast two-three years on army platform.
He said that we have started new course of Police Cadet Corps on the pattern of National Cadet Corps so as to impart training to the students from the early age.
Referring to the steps taken by the present State Government for the welfare of serving and ex-servicemen, the Chief Minister said that present State Government has taken several decisions for their welfare.
A separate Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department has been set up and General KJ Singh (Retd.) has been appointed as advisor to Chief Minister on Sainik and Ardh Sainik matters. Apart from this, government jobs have so far been provided to 252 dependents of the martyrs.
It is the first time that dependents of martyrs of war of 1962 and 1971 are also being provided government jobs, he added.
Various issues were taken up at the conference and most of were resolved on the spot.
It has been decided that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would be signed between Western Command and the State Government for making provision of civil medical facilities to armed forces in case of war or duties.
It was informed that there are 12,660 beds in State Government’s hospitals besides having fully equipped surgical teams in 22 districts. The State has 28 government blood banks and 79 private blood banks. It also has 60 advance ambulances and 207 basic ambulances.
It was also informed that a General Degree College of Army would come up at village Bataur, Tehsil Barwala in district Panchkula for which the State Government has approved land measuring 10 acres to Head Quarter, Western Command free of cost.
Lt. General Surinder Singh said that there is a huge demand of a Degree College in this area. He said that certain percentage of seats in this college would also be reserved for the wards of civilians.
During the conference, it was also informed that the Army headquarter has also approved the proposal for the setting up of Army College in village Budha Khera Lather, district Jind in the memory of Maj. Sanjeev Lather. Maj. Sanjeev who hailed from the village had attained martyrdom in November 2016 in a chopper crash at Sukhna in West Bengal. The village panchayat has offered 25 acres of land free of cost for this purpose.
Regarding the updation of internal security scheme of Haryana, it was informed that the work for updation of the scheme is under progress and the same would be completed within 15 days. Also, the project for enhancing the water supply to Ambala Cantt. from eight cusec to 20 cusec would be completed by March 31, 2020.
Earlier speaking on this occasion, Chief Secretary DS Dhesi said that the amount of ex-gratia has been increased from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Apart from this, it has been decided recently that in case of martyrdom of Class I Army Officer, his dependent would be provided class II government job.
