Policy to rehabilitate disabled army personnel on anvil: Badal

Chandigarh, Dec 7 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that state government would chalk out a comprehensive policy to rehabilitate the defence personnel rendered disabled in different army operations.

Speaking on the occasion of the Flag Day ceremony here at Punjab Bhawan Mr Badal said that the new policy would aim at ensuring gainful employment to the paraplegics after imparting requisite training in the skill development centres under a special scheme intended to make them self reliant.

Lauding the contribution of brave Punjabi soldiers in the pre and post independence India, Mr Badal said, "We are indebted to them for their selfless sacrifices to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of our motherland." "This day brings to the forefront the nation's obligation of looking after the war widows, war-disabled and the dependents of those who have sacrificed their lives for the country," he said.

Urging the people to donate liberally to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, the Chief Minister said, "Though it is a small contribution towards the men who guard our borders, yet it has an immense significance for the defence personnel who rendered yeoman services towards their motherland".

Earlier, Mr Badal released a bulletin on Armed Forces Flag Day brought out by the Directorate of Sainik Welfare Punjab on the occasion.

The function was attended by Defence Welfare and Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, Principal Secretary Defence Services SS Channy and Director Sainik Welfare Brig (Retd) Inderjit Singh Gakhal.

UNI