Suket Satyagraha Memorial would be raised at Karsog in Mandi district to commemorate the historic freedom movement launched in the then Suket State which had sparked the momentum in different parts of the State. Similar memorials were also being raised in Rani Jhansi Park, Shimla, Hamirpur and in Una in the first phase. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while presiding over the 15th Himachal Pradesh Freedom Fighters Welfare Board Meeting here today.

Chief Minister said that a master design was being prepared to raise Freedom Fighter Memorials at different parts of the State as a mark of respect to the freedom fighters of respective areas who had contributed significantly in the freedom movement as also acquaint the young generation about those who had made supreme sacrifices and had to go torturous punishments, to win the freedom. He said that a manuscript of the history of freedom fighters would soon be published in addition to bringing out a directory depicting life sketch and photograph. He directed the authorities to ensure that exhaustive research was carried to ascertain every freedom fighter hailing from the state who had participated in the freedom movement. He said that there were eleven freedom fighters who had surrendered their pensionary benefits voluntarily and their names needed to be published prominently. They were Dr. Y.S.Parmar, First Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, late Shri Lal Chand Prarthi, former Minister and late Bakshi Pratap Singh. He directed the Department of Language and Culture to publish the same by October 2, 2010 on the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government was disbursing freedom fighters pensionary benefits to their eligible dependant successors including divorced daughters and grand daughters who were solely dependant upon their freedom fighters fathers and grand fathers. He said that 2 percent reservation was being provided to the wards of freedom fighters in government jobs. He said that the State would raise the issue of providing pensionary benefits to such freedom fighters of the State at par with Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners who were either convicted to death or their conviction converted into life imprisonment at par with their counterparts in the country, with the Government of India. He said that a marriage grant of Rs. 10,000 was being given to the daughters and grand daughters of the freedom fighters, one seat has been reserved for their wards in MBBS, BDS and BAMS courses. Freedom fighters were also being provided facilities of stay in Himachal Bhawans at par with former Members of Parliament and former Members of State Legislative Assembly.









Chief Minister said that as a mark of honour freedom fighters were also extended invitation on national and state level functions as Special Guests. He said that that two seats had been reserved in all HRTC buses for freedom fighters while rest house facilities was also being made available to the freedom fighters at Panchayat Bhawan, Shimla, on demand basis. He added that free medical services were available with the Chief Medical Officer and Block Medical Officers who had also been directed to clear their medical reimbursement bills. He said that directions had been issued to ensure that freedom fighters had not stand in the queues in hospitals for their medical check-ups. He said that all out efforts were being made to ensure that the veteran freedom fighters were facilitated at all level and their interests safeguarded.

Shri I.D.Dhiman, Education Minister and Vice Chairman of the Board, proposed vote of thanks and said that Himachal Pradesh was proud of its veteran freedom fighters who had made supreme sacrifices for winning independence for the country. He said that the State Government was committed to protect their interests and extend best of the facilities to the living and wards of the freedom fighters.

Dr. Ajay Bhandari, Secretary GAD, welcomed the Chief Minister and conducted proceedings of the meeting.

Two minutes silence was observed to pay tribute to the freedom fighters who had passed away between the intervening period of previous and present meeting.

Smt. Asha Swarup, Chief Secretary, Ms. Harinder Hira, Additional Chief Secretary, Dr. P.C. Kapoor, Principal Secretary PWD, Shri Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary to the Chief Ministers, Shri P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary Health, Smt. Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary Tourism, Shri R.D. Dhiman, Secretary Rural Development, Shri J.R. Katwal, Special Secretary GAD, Shri N.L.Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD, Shri Vijay Uppal, Chief Architect, other senior officers of different departments were present in the meeting.

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