Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has said that civil administration and the military forces are one team working for the overall development of Rajasthan. Appreciating the assistance provided by the Army during natural calamities in saving lives and securing property, she said the state government was always responsive to the needs of the Army and assured that the state government will continue to work with the forces in furthering infrastructure and welfare.

Smt. Raje was addressing the Civil-Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) held here at South Western Command Headquarter in Jaipur on Thursday. Various issues of mutual concern were discussed during the conference including issues in which the state government sought cooperation from the Army.

Smt. Raje said armed forces have special capabilities in disaster response and called upon the Army to help in conducting regular drills and exercises with civilian police, civil defence and fire brigade personnels to make the disaster response state government more effective.

Mentioning the welfare works of the state government for defence personnel and their family, Smt. Raje said all 1166 war widows in Rajasthan have been issued with Special Identity Card and they shall receive prompt and responsive action at Government offices through this card. Under the Prime Minister Life Insurance Scheme all war widows have been given Insurance cover free of cost, she informed. The cash amount given to widows of Kargil war martyrs in lieu of land/ house has been increased from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh while the amount payable to parents of the Kargil martyrs has been doubled to Rs. 3 lakh, she said.

The Chief Minister said cash grants to recipients of gallantry awards has also been increased in the state. The grant for Sena Medal has been increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 6.25 lakhs while for Shaurya Chakra recipients it has been increased from Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 8.5 lakh. She said allocation of Rs. 60 lakhs has been made for construction of Sainik Vishram Grah in Tonk and various other infrastructure works have been taken up near army area including sanction of Rs. 16.89 crores for the widening of road at Mundota and Niwaru.

Smt. Raje said administrative and financial sanctions have been issued for drainage system around Military Station, Jaipur and JDA will start work soon. The war memorial at Amar Jawan Jyoti is being upgraded, she said.

She said the State Government was making all efforts for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, a threatened species whose last bastion is Thar Desert in Rajasthan. She requested cooperation of the army in evolving of joint monitoring mechanism between army and the forest department for the conservation this species.

Welcoming the Chief Minister GOC, South Western Command Lieutenant General Arun Kumar Sahni thanked Smt. Raje for the continued and positive support that the state government was extending to the Army, its serving soldiers and the veterans. He assured the continued support from Army to civil administration in the development of the state. He was hopeful that the CMLC would give new impetus to civil-military relations in the state.

Chief Secretary Shri C. S. Rajan, Chief of Staff, South Western Command, Lieutenant General HJS Sachdev, GOC, 10 Corps Lieutenant General D. R. Soni, GOC, 10 Corps, Maj Gen SK Jhakar, Chief of Staff 12 Corps, Maj Gen S K Jha, GOC 61 Sub Area, ACS UDH Shri Ashok Jain, Principal Secretary Finance Shri P. S. Mehra, senior officials of the state government and senior army officers were present in the meeting.

In the end of the conference Lieutenant General Arun Kumar Sahni presented memento to Smt. Raje and other officials of the state government.

Jaipur, 10 September 2015