Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the food allowance given to the dependents of armed forces personnel in the pre-recruitment training will be increased from Rs 80 to 255 per candidate. He said that the Soldier Welfare department will provide free of cost training of 56 days for the dependents of armed forces personnel in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions.

The CM was addressing a programme organised to mark the Vijay Diwas at Gandhi Park on Saturday. Speaking on the occasin, he said that in addition to being Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand is also the land of valour and sacrifice. He said that in the Indo-Pak war of 1971, 255 soldiers of Uttarakhand laid down their lives. A total of 74 soldiers from the State were conferred medals for showing exemplary courage and valour in the war.

Dhami said that Vijay Diwas is the day to celebrate the bravery, valour and courage of the brave soldiers of the Indian army. Terming the 1971 war as the war in which justice prevailed over injustice the CM said that more than 93,000 soldiers of Pakistan surrendered before the Indian army. Dhami said that the surrender was the biggest surrender after World War II.

 He said that the construction of Sainya Dham in Dehradun is in full swing which as per the wish of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the fifth Dham of Uttarakhand. The Sainya Dham will be a tribute for the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. He said that the Sainya Dham will act as a divine source of inspiration for the future generation.

 Dhami said that the morale of the soldiers has increased under the leadership of PM Modi. He averred that our soldiers are equipped with best weapons and world class support equipment is also provided to them. The morale of our soldiers is so high that now they are able to teach lessons to the enemy by pushing into his territory.

The CM said that the State government is committed for the well being of families of armed forces personnel. He said the government has increased the one time grant given to the personnel honoured with bravery awards. The pension of the dependents of the personnel who participated in World War II has been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per month. The pension of freedom fighters and their widows has been increased from Rs 21,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

In the programme the CM laid a floral wreath at the martyrs memorial. He also felicitated the ex -servicemen and widows of martyrs on the occasion.

 The Soldier Welfare minister Ganesh Joshi, MLA Khajan Das, secretary Deependra Chaudhary, Dehradun district magistrate Sonika, director of Soldier Welfare brigadier (retd) Amrit Lal, rear admiral (retd) OPS Rana, armed forces veterans and others attended the programme.