The Indian army has accepted in Principle the offer of Uttarakhand Government to take over the task of operating the Srinagar based Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Medical College. This decision was taken in a meeting between the State Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Bipin Rawat which was held former’s residence on Friday.
The State Government has also decided to give appointments to specialist and super specialist doctors in the state health service to the retired doctors from Army. A formal proposal in this regard would be sent to the Army soon. The specialist doctors retire at the age of 60 in armed forces but they usually have a good physical fitness due to which the Uttarakhand Government has decided to take their services as the state health services are hampered by acute shortage of doctors.
During the discussion the CM said that the interests of the students of the State would be safeguarded and best health services would be made available to the local people. Army chief said that army would plant Walnut trees in high altitude regions of the state on experimental basis. The CM said that the State Government is ready to hand over land of Van Panchayats or horticulture department to army for walnut plantation. He said that the State Government has constructed 60 helipads for disaster management which can be strengthened and developed for usage by Army. He said that the state government is undertaking measures to increase employment opportunities in the border areas of the state so that migration is reduced and a interest free load of Rs 1 lakh would be provided to youths of these areas. The CM said that joined armed forces are the first priority of the youths of the state.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy, Additional Chief Secretary Om Prakash, IMA Commandant lt General S K Upadhyay.