Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has said that Uttarakhand has been known as Dev bhoomi and now it is also known as Veer bhoomi due to valiant soldiers of the State. The State is proud of its soldiers, he said after paying tribute to martyrs of 1971 Indo-Pak war and honouring the gallantry award winners from the State. He also announced that family members of martyr soldiers will get hundred per cent rebate on house tax and ex-servicemen would get 25 per cent rebate on house tax. He also assured that the Government would make an intensive plan for the beautification of Gandhi Park shortly. He also assured that the Government will do its utmost to help the soldiers. The State’s youth not only join defence forces to earn their livelihood, but also serve the nation with great patriotism. The State Government is providing job opportunities to ex-servicemen and their dependent through Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL). “Our objective is not only to honour the ex-servicemen family but also help them to make financially sound as well. Uttarakhand was awarded Best State Award for its consistent economic development rate by President Pranab Mukherjee at ‘Chief Ministers Conclave’ of northern States at New Delhi on Saturday,” he said. Appreciating the soldiers, Bahuguna said that the soldiers are not only active in war time, but also help people during terrorism and other calamities during peace time. He also remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Field Marshal and other soldiers whoever made history. Before felicitating the gallantry award winners and their dependents the Chief Minister paid floral tribute to the martyrs at monuments situated at Gandhi Park. On this occasion, Defence Welfare Minister Dr Harak Singh Rawat said that our State has long history of soldiers who made supreme sacrifice to protect the nation. State Government is consistently making effort for the welfare of ex-servicemen. Now martyr widow gets `50,000 as financial assistance at the time of her daughter’s marriage earlier it was mere `20,000. To encourage youths especially students to join defence, Government is going to established Sainik School at Rudrapryag on the pattern of Sainik School, Ghodakhal. To commemorate martyr State Government is going to establish war memorial at Dehradun. While paying tribute to the martyrs, Leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt said that this is the beauty of the country that despite having differences of opinion “we get united on national interest and do everything to meet the exigency”. Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli said that there is long history of bravery. He spoke about the proper maintenance of Gandhi Park, rebate in house tax for martyr and ex-servicemen and Ajabpur stadium to be named after martyr Jaswant Singh. Others including MLA Rajkumar, Shaila Rani Rawat and several ex-servicemen were also present.

Dehradun: Industrial investments worth Rs 35,000 crore have been made in Uttarakhand since its creation in November 2000, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said on Saturday.
    
Addressing a conclave of the Chief Ministers of northern states in New Delhi, Bahuguna said an investment of Rs 35,000 crore in the industrial sector in the hill state so far is an encouraging sign.
    
Some leading industrial houses have registered their presence in the state in the manufacturing sector in recent years, an official release here quoted the chief minister as saying at the conclave.
    
A sound law and order scenario and skilled human resource are the twin factors luring investors to Uttarakhand, he said.
    
Reiterating his government's commitment to provide an ideal investment climate to entrepreneurs, the chief minister said there is great investment potential in the state especially in tourism, health and education sectors.
    
Noting that the size of the state's annual budget had risen from Rs 750 crore at the time of the state's creation in 2000 to Rs 8,200 crore at present, Bahuguna said industrial development is a must for the overall development of the state but taking the benefits of development to people in the remote hill areas of the state is also a priority of his government.
    
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi also attended the conclave.

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