Mastram Dalel ( cover story )
Himachal’s Valour
* Soldiers have received 848 gallantry awards
* Four Param Veer Chakras out of 21 in country
* Ten Maha Veer Chakras out of 86 in the country
* Soldiers have also received Two Ashok Chakras and 19 Kirti Chakras
Himachali Martyrs in Different Wars
War Number of Martyrs
1947 43
1962 131
1965 199
1971 195
Operation Meghdoot 35
Operation Pawan 25
Operation Vijay 54
Operation Prakaram 85
Other Operations 269
Leads in Gallantry Awards
In addition, ten brave soldiers from Himachal have also received Maha Veer Chakra for showing exemplary bravery during different wars. There are 86 MVC winners in the country. The winners from Himachal include Major General Anant Singh Pathania, Brigadier Rattan Nath Sharma, Brigadier BS Mankotia, Colonel Kamaan Singh, Sonam Yazing, Havaldar Stenzin Phunchok, Subedar Major Kanshi Ram, General RS Dayal, General RL Rattan,. Inderbal Singh Bawa. Maha Veer Chakra is awarded to soldiers for showing exemplary bravery during war.
Other gallantry awards at par with PVC and MVC are Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra that are given to soldiers and police for showing bravery during situations other than war for the internal and external security of the country. Himachal’s Major Sudhir Walia and Colonel Jasvir Singh are Ashok Chakra winners besides 19 other soldiers who have won Kirti Chakra. Kangra’s Havaldar Sanjeevan Kumar was given Kirti Chakra (posthumously) for his supreme sacrifice during attack on Pathankot air base recently. Other Kirti Chakra winners include Colonel Amit Kumar, Promila Devi, Kanshi Ram, Ravinder Rana, Purshotam Das, Sanjiv Singh, Rakesh Pal, Anil Kumar, MC Rana, Brigadier Inderjit, AS Guleria, MS Pathania, Prem Chand, Madan Swarup, Rajinder Singh, DN Kanwarpal, and DR Mehra.
1210 Martyrs from Himachal
300 Students In NDA
Nearly 300 students have joined NDA in past five years with each getting Rs. 12000 annually after getting admission. Every year 30 students get training for NDA who are selected on merit basis.
Welfare Schemes
Sainik Welfare Board has enhanced financial assistance under different schemes including non-pensioners. Currently Himachal has 111, 508 ex-servicemen, 940 war widows and 33,684 general widows. The board provides Rs. 50,000 for marriage of daughters of war widows, old age pension to ex-servicemen and widows and Rs. 3000 pension for those who participated in Second World war. Besides numerous other welfare schemes, there is also a provision of financial assistance of Rs. 30 lakh, Rs. 20 lakh, Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh for OVC and Ashok Chakra, Maha Veer Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shourya Chakra winners.
Demand For CSD Depot
Search is on for opening a CSD Depot in Himachal as per emand of ex-servicemen. Until now, supply for Himachal is made from Jalandhar, Ambala and Pathankot CSD canteens. Sources said the locations is being looked at in Una district for the purpose. Its opening will also generate employment opportunities and benefit ex-servicemen. Efforts are also on for opening a Military Station probably between Una and Bilaspur districts.
War Museum at Dharamshala
Pawan Sharma
-Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister
-Prem Kumar Dhumal, Leader of Opposition
Pending Issues
Himachal is also known as Veer Bhoomi as its soldiers have made supreme sacrifices to safeguard the territorial sanctity of the country on numerous occasion. However, this hilly state has not got its justified quota for recruitment to the army. This demand has been lingering on now since long even as soldiers from Himachal are always at the forefront to make supreme sacrifices. Lt Col YS Rana said provision of quota for ex-servicemen and wards of ex-servicemen was introduced very late. The Centre should open an army institute and academy in Himachal, he added, pointing out many central and state departments were not providing facilities to ex-servicemen. There is another demand for constitution of Himalayan Regiment.
-Lt Col YS Rana, Dharamshala