Yadavindra S Rana
SHIMLA—In a letter addressed to the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Jai Ram Thakur, chief minister urged the Union Government to open Army Canteen/Extension Counters in those areas of the State where there was no coverage to facilitate the soldiers and ex-servicemen of the State.
In the communication, Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh has a large number of serving and veterans soldiers, who have served the country with utmost loyalty and dedication and issue of setting up army canteens/extension counters in the state was a long pending demand of serving as well as veteran soldiers.
The chief minister also said that being a hilly State with many areas having difficult terrain and were devoid of basic amenities for which, ex-servicemen have to travel a distance of over 60 kms to avail canteen facilities. He said that the ex-servicemen have been continuously approaching the State Government for opening Army Canteen/Extension Counters. He said that the State Government was of the view that this pending demand was genuine and strongly recommended the case.
Thakur said that the State Government would provide necessary infrastructure/gap funding in case necessary permission was granted by the Union Ministry of Defence regarding opening of Army Canteen/Extension Counters.
