Lucknow. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the ex-servicemen reunion ceremony organized in Meerut on Saturday. Before the program, he issued a message on the social media platform 'X' and expressed his gratitude towards the 5.19 lakh ex-servicemen of the state and their families. He said that this huge military family of 15 to 20 lakh people is a symbol of the strength and glorious tradition of the nation.
The Chief Minister said that out of about 60 thousand soldiers who retire every year in the country, 10 to 12 thousand are from Uttar Pradesh. This shows the contribution of the state in the security of the nation. He said that respect for soldiers, support to martyr families and welfare of ex-servicemen are the priorities of the government.
Accusing the previous governments of ignoring the honor of soldiers and martyr families, Yogi said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many steps have been taken in the interest of soldiers including One Rank-One Pension.
Describing Uttar Pradesh as an emerging center of defense self-reliance, the Chief Minister mentioned the UP Defense Corridor and BrahMos missile manufacturing in Lucknow. He said that steps like financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the families of martyrs, government job to one dependent, 20 percent reservation in UP Police and five percent reservation in Group 'B' posts for firefighters and providing employment to more than 31,700 ex-servicemen have been taken.
The Chief Minister said that respect for soldiers, support of martyr families and welfare of ex-servicemen are not just government responsibilities but a national resolution.