Pranab to inaugurate meeting of Kendriya Sainik Board

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate here tomorrow the 26th meeting of the Kendriya Sainik Board, an apex body to deliberate on issues concerning welfare and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.

The meeting will be attended by several key personalities from defence, politics and administration. These include Governor of Goa, Lt Governors of Andaman and Nicobar and Chandigarh, and Chief Ministers of Haryana, Jharkhand, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The main issues for discussion relate to strengthening the institutions of Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards, increasing employment avenues for ex-servicemen in State governments and extending various welfare and development programmes to ex-servicemen.

The origin of Kendriya Sainik Board dates back to 1919 when the Indian Soldiers Board was established to advise on matters relating to the interests of serving, discharged and deceased soldiers. In 1951, it was renamed as the Indian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Board. This Board was renamed as 'Kendriya Sainik Board' in 1975.

The last meeting of the KSB was held in 2003.

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