Ravi wants Naga youths to join defense services

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 31 (EMN): Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on Friday said that welfare of the ex-servicemen is of utmost importance and that it is necessary to assist them in resettlement.

Ravi was addressing the 23rd annual meeting of Directorate of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement of Rajya Sainik Board that was held at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on January 31.

The governor expressed happiness at being part of the discussion on welfare issues pertaining to ex-servicemen, widows and dependents, as the services they had rendered. He also appreciated the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for announcing adequate contribution towards the corpus fund of the Rajya Sainik Board for the next five years, stating that it will go a long way in improving the welfare of the ex-servicemen in the state.

Ravi urged the district administration to take initiatives in their respective districts to come up with means for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen who usually retire from their services young. He also stressed on the importance of skill development and vocational training for rehabilitation of such people and to look for other avenues.

He emphasised on the need for an increase in representation of Naga youth in defense services, especially in the Air force and Navy, to which he urged the gathering to sensitise and create awareness. He also told the gathering that the meeting was conducted after a gap of four years and expressed the need to have such a meeting every year to discuss the welfare of ex-servicemen.

Also addressing the meeting, Neiphiu Rio stressed on the importance of Sainik welfare board, stating that the state would lend full cooperation to the welfare of ex-servicemen. He appreciated the participation and services of ex-servicemen during National days and their contributions to the society, saying that it shows their sense of belongingness.

Rio added that the mentality of the Nagas has changed with time, taking into account the increased number of youths getting into army and defence services and the huge number of pass out students from Sainik schools.

Further, the chief minister asserted that defence services are a good opportunity for the youths as Nagaland has the highest number of government servants (saturated).

The secretary of Sainik Welfare Board presided meeting which highlighted the challenges of ex-servicemen, their rehabilitation, the focus of Rajya Sainik Board and its plans, activities and review of the 2016 annual meeting and its progress.

The agenda of the 23rd annual meeting included: Increment of corpus fund, selection board for the appointment of officers and personnel below officer rank, empanelment of hospitals, and construction of state-level multifaceted Sainik rest house in Kohima.

The meeting was also attended by the chief secretary, DGP Nagaland police, and other state officials including representatives of Eastern Air Command, Defence PRO, chief of staff, HQ 3 corps Dimapur, Dy. IGAR (N), CO 3 Assam Rifles and others.