In the 29th meeting of the State Sainik Board, held yesterday in Conference Hall No. 2 of the Secretariat, Tripura Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha announced several initiatives aimed at supporting ex-servicemen and their dependents. The Chief Minister stated that this year’s state budget has allocated resources for coaching facilities for ex-servicemen and their dependents to prepare for the Tripura Civil Service (TCS) and Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) examinations.
Additionally, a new scheme has been introduced to provide social pensions to unmarried and dependent daughters and sons (above 18 years of age) of permanent residents of Tripura who have served in the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). A budget of 22.40 crore has been set aside for this scheme. During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed the Director of the Directorate of Sainik Welfare to compile a list of ex-servicemen interested in pursuing careers in sectors such as micro, small, and medium enterprises, start-ups, animal resources, fisheries, and other areas. A specific policy framework will be developed to support this initiative.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of providing training in information technology and for the TCS and TPSC exam preparations for ex-servicemen and their dependents. He emphasized the need to renovate the state’s Sainik Rest House. The Director of the Sainik Welfare Department, Retired Captain (IN) Paramjit Singh, elaborated on the programs implemented for the welfare of deceased and retired soldiers. He discussed the actions taken based on the decisions from the latest State Sainik Board meeting. Various proposed matters concerning the welfare of former and deceased soldiers were also addressed.
Discussions included plans for training former soldiers and their dependents, increasing the value of Gallantry and Service Awards for the state’s soldiers, raising the one-time ex-gratia grant for state defence personnel who have been martyred or physically disabled in war or conflict, renovating soldiers’ rest houses, providing tax exemptions for former soldiers, increasing the number of reserved posts for ex-servicemen in state government jobs, and expanding the Integrated Sainik’ Complex.
The meeting was attended by MLA Swapna Das Pal, Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, Director General of State Police Anurag, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Finance Department Apurba Roy, Secretary of the General Administration (Political) Department T. K. Debnath, along with several ex-servicemen who participated in the discussions.
