Our Correspondent

Nurpur, January 4

The Sainik Welfare Board (SWB) organised a sammelan to redress the grievances of the ex-servicemen of the area and to sensitise them and their families about the welfare schemes launched by the Centre and state government. Local MLA Rakesh Pathania presided over the camp.

Officials of the Defence Pension Disbursing Officer (DPDO), Pathankot, listened to the grievances of the ex-servicemen and redressed most of them on the spot.

Brigadier (retd) SK Sharma, Director, Himachal Pradesh Sainik Welfare Board, addressed the ex-servicemen on the occasion. He briefed them about the activities of the board.

A free health camp was also organised on the occasion.

Pathania said the state government had approved a war memorial for Nurpur for which 22-kanal area had been transferred in the name of SWB and Rs 1 crore had been earmarked. He said the Centre and the state government were committed to the welfare of the Army and para-military forces. He also exhorted the ex-servicemen to take benefit of the programmes and schemes launched by the state and Central Government for their welfare. The state government had started to identify land for the proposed central school sanctioned for Nurpur area, he added.

Two-minute silence was observed on the occasion to pay homage to martyr Lance Naik Sapan Chowdhary of Sihal village in Kangra who lost his life as an avalanche hit an Army post in Poonch district of J&K Thursday.