My Dear Jawans,
The country will be celebrating
our 71st Independence Day tomorrow. On this momentous occasion, I
extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to each one of you serving in the
Armed Forces. I extend my greetings to all serving personnel as well as
ex-servicemen of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard. I also extend
my best wishes to the family members of our Armed Forces personnel, many of
whom are deployed far from their homes in not only tough terrain but also in
deep seas.
2. On this
auspicious occasion, my thoughts and gratitude are with the near and dear ones
of all those who laid down their lives protecting our nation. We are forever
indebted to them for their supreme sacrifice. Since the Armed Forces are at the
forefront of our nation’s defence, I assure you that the Government will do all
that is necessary to keep your morale high and to meet your functional
requirements.
3. Despite
our repeated requests to our Western neighbour not to use our territory
occupied by it not only to train terrorists but also use it as launch pad for
pushing these militants into India, such nefarious activities continued. We ran
out of patience as these terrorists were not only targeting our Armed Forces
but also civilians. Based on specific and credible inputs about some terrorist
teams having positioned themselves at launch pads along Line of Control to
carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and
in various metros in other States, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes
on 29 September last year at several of these launch pads to pre-empt
infiltration by terrorists. The operations were focussed on ensuring that these
terrorists did not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger
the lives of our citizens. During these counter terrorist operations
significant casualties were caused to terrorists and those providing support to
them.
4. Even
now our jawans continue to be vigilant on the Line of Control, defending the
nation, as our adversary continues with its abhorrent acts. Some of our
soldiers continue to make the supreme sacrifice while defending our motherland.
The nation is indebted to their martyrdom.
5. The
Government is committed for the welfare of our jawans. The Government has taken
decision on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission on
Allowances, which will benefit 14 lakh Defence Forces personnel. Some of these
include, rates of Siachen Allowance for extreme risk and hardship increased
from Rs
14,000 per month to Rs 30,000
per month; Counter Insurgency Operations Allowance increased from between Rs 3,000 and 11,700 per month to
between Rs
6,000 and 16,900 per month. Territorial Army Allowance increased from between Rs 175 and 450 per month to Rs 1,000 and 2,000 per month.
6. The
welfare of Ex-Servicemen has been paramount for the government. The benefits of
One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme started reaching the accounts of
Ex-Servicemen and families since last year. Till July 10 this year, a sum of Rs 4,156 crores and Rs 2,385 crores have been paid
towards first and second instalments of OROP arrears to around 20,40,000
Ex-Servicemen/family pensioners and 15,93,000 Ex-Servicemen respectively.
Further, a sum of Rs
2,250 crores has also been paid to 15,13,000 Ex-Servicemen as third instalments
of OROP arrears. The Government is also sympathetically considering the report
of the one-man judicial committee headed by Justice L Narasimha Reddy on OROP
to look into the anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP and
will take decision soon.
7. The
government has enhanced penury grant to non-pensioner Ex-Servicemen/Widows to Rs 4,000/- per month from the
existing rate of Rs
1,000/- per month. We have approved the enhancement of the penury grant
following the demands by different stake holders, including Ex-servicemen
Associations, Rajya Sainik Boards, Ex-servicemen/widows. The grant is provided
to non-pensioner Ex-servicemen/widows, who are above 65 years of age by the
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through Kendriya Sainik Board. It will
benefit a large number of non-pensioner Ex-servicemen and widows who are
virtually in a state of penury.
8. With
the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to help create a spirit
of respect for our real heroes, my esteemed cabinet colleague, Minister of
Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar and Minister of State for
Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre jointly launched a campaign to have a ‘Wall of
Valour’ in 1,000 educational institutions across the country in the Month of
May. Portraits of Param Vir Chakra decorated soldiers will be displayed at
designated places on educational campuses to instil sense of nationalism among
the students.
9. I had
privilege to inaugurate the Sainik Rest House at Naraina in New Delhi last
month. It is built at a cost of around Rs 8 crore. I hope that this is the
beginning of an initiative and the KSB will be able to expand on these in the
years to come so that such facilities become an integral part of facilities for
Ex-Servicemen. The facilities which have been created are extremely hygienic
and very liveable. The Armed Forces have a tradition of maintaining their
properties and preserving them well. And I am sure that the kind of modest
charges which have been fixed will be of a great assistance and value to all
serving and Ex-Servicemen.
10. With
these words, I once again extend my greetings to all of you and your family
members on the eve of 71st Independence Day. We fought long for our
Independence and became Independent nation in which countless patriots immersed
themselves in the struggle so that the new generation could live in a free
India. The nation now looks to you to defend its borders with all your might
and to the best of your strength & abilities so that all our people sleep in
peace tonight so that we all see a new dawn together, tomorrow and to take our
country to new heights of peace and prosperity for all our people.
11. Jai
Hind!
