New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today lauded the role of veterans in nation building terming them as a source of inspiration for generations.
Stressing the government’s commitment to working for the benefit of veterans, the Defence Minister assured timely approval of pensions to them.
He inaugurated the 172nd Defence Pensioners Adalat in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh today, becoming the first Defence Minister to be a part of the event, an official statement said.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment of timely approval of pension, Rajnath Singh assured that the Defence Accounts Department will leave no stone unturned to deal with any challenges that come in the way.
He said, disbursement of defence pension is a complex process involving many agencies and Defence Accounts Department is working tirelessly to provide pensions in a time-bound manner.
The Government had fulfilled the long-standing demand of ‘One Rank One Pension’ that has benefited lakhs of defence pensioners across the country, he added.
He highlighted Lucknow as the birthplace of martyrs like Captain Manoj Pandey and Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid saying that the nation will always be indebted to their supreme sacrifice and the Defence Pensioners Adalat is a small step in that direction.
He also appreciated the good work by Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
The two-day Defence Pensioners Adalat aims at redressal of pension related grievances of veterans of Armed Forces and their next of Kin residing in the all districts of Uttar Pradesh.
It has been organised by Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj in close coordination with Headquarters Central Command.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Central Command Lt Gen I S Ghuman said that of the total 31 lakh veterans in the country, about four lakh are in Uttar Pradesh and this Defence Pensioners Adalat has been organised in Lucknow after seven years with the efforts of the Defence Minister.