In recognition with the gallantry services rendered by the valiant Punjabis in the armed forces, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced to enhance the one time grant for the recipient of Param Vir Chakra from Rs.30 lac to Rs.2 Crore, Mahavir Chakra from Rs.20 lac to Rs.1 crore and Vir Chakra from Rs.15 lac to Rs.50 lac.Addressing the gathering on the inauguration of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls here in Sector 66 A, the Chief Minister further announced to enhance the amount of travelling allowance admissible to war widows from Rs.150 to Rs.500 per month with immediate effect. Likewise, he also announced to increase the amount of ex-gratia to all battle casualties in case of death from Rs.2 lac to Rs.5 lac and in case of disability of 75% and above from Rs.2 lac to Rs.4 lac and similarly it has been increased from Rs.1 lac to Rs. 2 lac in case of disability of 50% and above.In another major relief to the families of ex-servicemen, the Chief Minister also declared to grant dual pension to the widows of ex-servicemen as these widows were earlier only entitled to either army pension or Punjab government pension. The Chief Minister also announced to establish old age home for the ex-servicemen in Mohali, for which the GMADA has already earmarked 1.5 acre land.
Earlier, welcoming the Union Defence Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister said he was indebted to him for accepting his personal invitation for the inauguration of this institute, first of its kind in Asia. He said the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ given by the former Prime Minister of India Mr. Lal Bahadur Shashtri aptly conformed to the dedicated soldiers and hardworking farmers of Punjab as both played a vanguard role in safe guarding our borders from external aggression and making our country self reliant in food production. ‘That’s why Punjab was known as the food bowl and sword arm of the country’, said Mr. Badal.
Dwelling on the valiant deeds of the Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, Mr. Badal said that more than 80% of martyrs who sacrificed their lives belonged to Punjab and several historic movements like Gaddar, Babbar Akali, Kuka were started from here. He also mentioned about the enormous contribution of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kartar Singh Sarabha and Udham Singh. He said it was also a matter of great honour and pride that Bhai Mehraj Singh was the first Punjabi martyr who laid down his life against the British imperialism. He also recounted supreme contribution made in the Indian army by the two great Generals of the country Air Marshal Arjan Singh & Field Marshal Gen Manekshaw. Likewise, he also recalled the unparalled contribution made by Gen Jagjit Singh Arora who emerged as a hero in the Bangladesh war. Similarly, the gallantry services of Gen Harbaksh Singh and Gen Gurbaksh Singh would be ever remembered by one and all.
Seeking Union Defence Minister’s personal intervention to enhance the posts of women officer cadre in the armed forces, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Parrikar to do the needful at the earliest so that our women cadets passing out from this prestigious academy could be absorbed in the defence services. He apprised the Union Defence Minister that 54 cadets from Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Boys have been selected as officers in National Defence Academy since its inception in 2011. Mr. Badal also said that 16 CPYTE centres have been set up across the state from where 30% of the trained youth have been recruited in the army. He said Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation (PESCO) has offered employment to nearly 8000 ex-servicemen as security personnel in various government institutes and the state run thermal plants. To perpetuate the marshal legacy amongst our younger generation our government has already set up a Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial at Chappar Chiri in Mohali district. Another war memorial is being set up at Amritsar first of its kind in country to showcase the legendary sacrifices made by the armed personnel. Apart from this, the state-of-the-art war memorial is being set up at Kartarpur to project the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the Indian freedom struggle. As many as 4 new NCC units have been established in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Defence Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar complimented the Chief Minister for taking this unique initiative to set up Mai Bhago institute to train girls for armed forces as it would prove to be a milestone for attracting girls to opt armed services as their career. Mr. Parrikar said his Ministry has already taken a call to relax certain norms for the recruitment of women in the armed forces and a final decision was expected to be taken within next two months. He also mentioned at present there were 3298 women officers in the army and this number was likely to be enhanced manifold. Thus, he requested Mr. Badal to also enhance the number of seats in the Mai Bhago Institute so that more such aspirants could be accommodated in armed forces.Parrikar further said that this institute was dedicated to Mai Bhago a brave Sikh women warrior and embodiment of courage, justice and leadership in the Sikh history. He said this institute was not merely an academy to train girls for defence services but would also play a stellar role in the ‘empowerment of women’ too.In his address, President of BJP Punjab State Unit Mr. Kamal Sharma said that the institutions like Mai Bhago and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes for girls and boys besides meritorious schools were the dream projects of the Chief Minister which would certainly shape the destiny of our youth in the near future.
Speaking on the occasion, Member Parliament from Sri Anandpur Sahib Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra said that said that Human Resource Development (HRD) was one of the core sectors which must be prioritized by every state by opening such projects which would be instrumental in providing better job opportunities. He expressed satisfaction that Punjab government was doing exceedingly well in the HRD and hoped the efforts of Mr. Badal would soon fructify in producing trained army officers both men and women, for which our state was once known for its glorious legacy in country’s defence services. He urged the Union Defence Minister to clear their pending proposal in his ministry for setting up Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Sri Anandpur Sahib at the earliest.At the very onset, the Employment Generation and Transport Minister Mr. Ajit Singh Kohar welcomed the Union Defence Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries present on the occasion.
Earlier, the former Chiefs of the Army Staff Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen VP Malik in their speeches impressed upon the girls to take up armed forces as their career as it was the only profession in the country which was a true blend of the qualities viz patriotism, dedication, sincerity and leadership. They opined that the women officers in the army could be role models to inspire the young girls to join army through their brave deeds. They said that Mai Bhago institute would now lay a strong foundation to pave a way for the girl cadets especially from Punjab to join armed forces as officers.In her address, Major Gen Rakhi Singh said that the armed forces were now opening up to accommodate women officers as earlier it was considered to be the strong hold of only males and the scenario has now entirely changed with many branches like medical, nursing and education were attracting women to join these services.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister along with Union Defence Minister digitally unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls by pressing a button. Mr. Badal also honoured Gen (Retd.) and Mrs. Deepak Kapoor, Gen (Retd.) and Mrs. VP Malik, Capt. Bana Singh, PVC and Maj Gen Mrs. Rakhi Singh with the sword, a shawl and a memento.Both Army Commander of Western Command Lt. Gen. KJ Singh and Lt. Gen NPS Hira, GoC 11 Corps, Jalandhar presented a silver trophy to the Director of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls Maj Gen (Retd.) IP Singh.
Prominent amongst other who were present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, MLA Mr. Gobind Singh Longowal, Senior Akali Leader Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia besides Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema and Director Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute Brigadier (Retd.) DS Grewal, Lt. Gen (Retd.) T.S. Gill, Chairman, Punjab Public Service Commission, Major Gen. (Retd.) J.S. Ghumman, Sri Dasmesh Academy Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Major Gen. (Retd.) K.A.S. Bhullar, Project Director, Society for Poor & Meritorious students of Punjab, Director Defence Service Welfare Brigadier (Retd.) JS Arora, Director General C-PYTE Major General (Retd.) Rajesh Kumar Bawa, Deputy Commissioner SAS Nagar Mr. TPS Sidhu, IG Patiala Range Mr. Paramjeet Singh Gill, SSP SAS Nagar Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and Chairman-cum-Managing Director PESCO Lieutenant General Kuldeep Singh.The function was attended by several retired army officers, ex-servicemen, CPYTE students, NCC Cadets, Army school students besides the cadets of Mai Bhago and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes.