Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that a memorial of the freedom fighters would be constructed at Dari near Dharamshala with names of all the freedom fighters of the State engraved on it. Besides, a circuit house would also be constructed at Shimla to facilitate the freedom fighters and their wards.The Chief Minister who was presiding over the 17th meeting of the H.P. Freedom Fighter Welfare Board here today said that the entire nation was indebted to the freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifices in the freedom struggle thereby realizing the dream of an Independent India. He said that the freedom fighters were the pride of the nation and their patriotism and valour will ever remain a source of inspiration for the younger generations.Virbhadra Singh said that the State Government was resolute to safe guard the interests of freedom fighters and various initiatives had been taken to ensure their welfare. The Himachal Pradesh Freedom Fighter Samman Yojna was being implemented in the State benefiting 739 beneficiaries including 84 freedom fighters. The honorarium of freedom fighters had been enhanced from Rs. 7500 to Rs. 10,000 whereas the honorarium of their wives and un-married daughters had been enhanced from Rs. 3500 to Rs. 5000.
The Chief Minister said that the grant-in-aid for the marriage of the daughters and grand daughters of the freedom fighters had also been increased to Rs. 51,000 and Rs. 21,000 respectively. The freedom fighters were being provided boarding facility in Himachal Bhawan at Delhi and Chandigarh on the analogy of former MPs and MLAs. One seat each had been reserved in professional training institutes, medical colleges, dental colleges and ayurvedic colleges for their wards and they were also being provided two percent reservation in government and semi-government services. Besides, the freedom fighters and their wives were being also provided free medical care, besides reimbursement of medical claims.
He directed the public works department to provide roads connectivity till the residence of recognized freedom fighters at the earliest. He said that free travel facility to the freedom fighters would be extended to all state transport buses except Volvo buses. Vice-Chairman of Freedom Fighter Welfare Board, Shri Sushil Rattan welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for taking various initiatives for the welfare of the freedom fighters and their dependents. He also raised various other issues relating to the freedom fighters.MLA Shri Sanjay Rattan, Chief Secretary Shri P. Mitra, Additional Chief Secretaries Shri Vineet Chaudhary & Shri P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary Personnel Shri S.K.B.S. Negi, Secretary GAD Shri Mohan Chauhan, Managing Director HRTC Dr. R.N. Batta, Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur Shri Rohan Thakur, Members of the Board and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.