Chief Minister Pays Tribute to Kargil Martyrs, Increases Ex-Gratia for Param Vir Chakra Awardees to ₹1.5 Crore

On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid floral tribute at the Shaheed Smarak (Martyrs’ Memorial) in Gandhi Park, Dehradun, on Saturday to honor the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil War. During the event, the Chief Minister also honored the families of Kargil martyrs.

Major Announcements:

• Ex-gratia for Param Vir Chakra awardees increased from ₹50 lakh to ₹1.5 crore.
• Construction of ECHS and Sainik Rest House in Kaleshwar (Chamoli district) and a new Sainik Rest House in Nainital announced.
• Employment for ex-servicemen abroad through UPNL, with 50% reservation for civilians. Currently, 22,500 people are employed through UPNL, and the regularization process is underway.
• One family member of a martyr to be given a government job, and the application window extended from 2 years to 5 years.

Key Highlights:

CM Dhami stated that the nation will always remember the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. The valleys and mountains of Kargil still echo the valor of Indian soldiers, he said. During the Kargil conflict, Indian troops displayed unmatched bravery, strategy, and courage, forcing the enemy to retreat.

• 75 soldiers from Uttarakhand were martyred during the Kargil War.
• CM highlighted the government’s efforts to modernize and equip the army with advanced technology under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership.
• Recalling Operation Sindoor, the CM said the Indian Army, under the PM’s leadership, forced Pakistan to its knees within just four days, sending a strong message to those who harm India’s women or challenge its sovereignty.

Welfare Measures for Soldiers and Veterans:

• The One Rank One Pension scheme, National War Memorial, increased defense budget, and improved border infrastructure have been pivotal steps by the central government.
• Ex-gratia for martyrs’ families increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.
• Increased lump sum and annual amounts for all gallantry award recipients—from Param Vir Chakra to Mention-in-Dispatches.
• 25% stamp duty exemption on purchase of property up to ₹25 lakh for serving and retired soldiers.
• Free travel for gallantry awardees and ex-servicemen in state transport buses.

Remarks by Sainik Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi:

He said the Indian military has become significantly stronger under PM Modi’s leadership. In the Kargil War, hundreds of soldiers were martyred, including 75 from Uttarakhand, 31 of whom were from the Dehradun region.

Till date, 1,831 soldiers from Uttarakhand have been martyred, 1,528 of them awarded gallantry honors, and 344 Distinguished Service Medals have been given to soldiers from the state. The state and central governments are working jointly for the welfare of soldiers and their families.

So far, 37 family members of martyrs have been provided government jobs through the state employment provision.

Dignitaries Present:

• Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal
• MLAs Khajan Das, Savita Kapoor
• Officials from Sainik Welfare, senior retired officers, Dehradun DM Savin Bansal, SSP Ajay Singh, ex-servicemen, and martyr families.

(Source: Department of Information and Public Relations)