Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Shaheed Samman Ceremony held in Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, where he paid homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation. He honored the families of martyrs by presenting them with copper plaques and ceremonial shawls and also inspected the Army band before offering floral tributes at the memorial of Amar Shaheed Gabbar Singh Negi.
During the event, the Chief Minister lit a lamp before urns filled with sacred soil collected from the courtyards of martyrs across districts, which will be placed at the upcoming Sainya Dham in Dehradun. He said the memorial is not just a structure of bricks and stones but a symbol of eternal souls that will continue to inspire future generations with patriotism. The soil collection drive under “Shaheed Samman Yatra 2.0,” held between 25 September and 4 October, was described by him as a tribute to the tears and sacrifices of martyr families.
The Chief Minister made several important announcements, including:
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Renovation and modernization of the Sainik Rest House in Kotdwar.
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Establishment of Common Service Centres in Directorate of Sainik Welfare and district offices for free services by Veer Naris and ex-servicemen.
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Financial assistance for the renovation of the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre Museum in Lansdowne.
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Upgradation of the Primary Health Centre in Jaiharikhal.
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Renaming institutions and roads after martyrs: Government Inter College Kartiya after Shaheed Kamal Singh Rawat, High School Dobrialasar after Shaheed Anuj Singh Negi, Barua–Chinbo road after Shaheed Keshwanand Dhyani, a Primary Health Centre after Shaheed Harish Joshi, and Jaiharikhal–Gumkhal road after Shaheed Khushal Singh Negi.
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Honorarium for all World War II veterans and widows, removing the earlier funding restrictions.
He highlighted ongoing welfare measures such as increasing the ex-gratia amount for martyr families from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore, ₹10,000 funeral assistance, 25% stamp duty concession for soldiers in land purchase, and appointments for martyr dependents under compassionate grounds, with 28 already provided and 13 cases under process. The application period for such appointments has been extended from 2 years to 5 years.
The Chief Minister also noted that the Central Government has strengthened the forces with One Rank One Pension, modern equipment, jackets, and boots. He emphasized India’s growing strength in defense exports and capacity to respond firmly to adversaries. He appealed to citizens to plant trees under the campaign “Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam,” similar to “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.”
Sainik Kalyan Minister Ganesh Joshi said the successful conclusion of Shaheed Samman Yatra 2.0 in Lansdowne marked the collection of sacred soil from the courtyards of 71 martyrs, which will be placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti before the inauguration of the Sainya Dham. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his consistent sensitivity toward soldiers and Veer Naris.
Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt described Uttarakhand as both Devbhoomi and Veerbhoomi, stating that martyrs are immortal warriors whose sacrifices allow citizens to live in freedom. He welcomed the state government’s decision to provide 10% reservation in Group C uniformed services for soldiers and Agniveers.
The ceremony also featured a video presentation highlighting the journey of Shaheed Samman Yatra, evoking emotional tributes from the gathering. The event concluded with thanks extended by Sainik Kalyan Secretary Dipendra Chaudhary, who called it a collective symbol of the state’s resolve to honor martyrs and complete the construction of the Sainya Dham.
Dignitaries present included District Panchayat Chairperson Rachna Butola, MLA Rajkumar Pori, Colonel of the Regiment Lt. Gen. D.S. Rana, Lt. Gen. Sharat Chandra (Retd.), Brigadier Vinod Singh Negi, Vice Chairman of Gau Sewa Aayog Pt. Rajendra Anthwal, District Magistrate Swati S. Bhadauria, SSP Lokeshwar Singh, Kotdwar Mayor Shailendra Singh Rawat, and others.
