Excelsior Correspondent
![Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chairing Rajya Sainik Board meeting at Jammu on Tuesday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/page5-copy1-300x75.jpg)
JAMMU, Apr 9: N. N. Vohra, Governor and Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, today called for taking all required measures for skill re-orientation and upgradation of ex-servicemen to enhance their employability and placements in the job market.
The Governor and the Chief Minister observed that ex-servicemen could be encouraged and enabled to set up cooperative units in the State as this could contribute to a good number of them getting gainfully engaged. To effectively safeguard and promote the interests of ex-servicemen from J&K, and their families, they stressed the importance of available resources being optimally mobilized.
The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the 75th meeting of the J&K Rajya Sainik Board, at Raj Bhavan, here today.
The Governor, chairing the meeting, observed that the State has a significant population of ex-servicemen who possess valuable experience, skills and technical expertise in different fields, adding that this potential needs to be gainfully exploited for the overall benefit of the society at large. He noted that, for securing this objective, an appropriate mechanism could be put in place for enabling the ex-servicemen to be provided counseling.
Reviewing the construction of Sainik Bhavans, the Governor called for devising appropriate strategies for most effective utilization of these assets and other such infrastructure coming up at various places in the State for maximizing their benefits to be gained therefrom. He stressed the need to ensure the timely completion of all Sainik Bhavans presently under construction.
The Governor stressed the importance of all required measures being taken on urgent basis for revitalization of the Sainik Welfare Department as per the recommendations of the Central Government High Level Committee.
The Rajya Sainik Board reviewed in detail the progress made with regard to the construction of Sainik Bhavans at Srinagar, Jammu, Rajouri, Kargil, Kupwara, Anantnag and Baramulla and the status of acquisition of land for Sainik Welfare Housing Colonies.
Later, the Governor chaired the meeting of the State Managing Committee for Funds, and focused on the budgetary support being provided by the State Government to the Department of Sainik Welfare, as also the contribution of the Kendriya Sainik Board to the J&K Rajya Sainik Board. He emphasized the need for evolving appropriate strategies for enhancing the mobilization and collection of funds at all levels, for maximizing the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families.
The meeting among others was attended by Iqbal Khandey, Chief Secretary; B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary, Finance; Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Lt. Gen. HJS Sachdev, Chief of Staff, Northern Command; Maj. Gen. P. S. Rajeshwar, Chief of Staff, 16 Corps; Air Cmde Sanjay Sharma, Secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board, New Delhi; Suleiman Salaria, Commissioner, Civil Military Liaison; Brig. N. S. Khroud, Dy GOC, 26 Div; Brig. K. K. Pant, Dy GOC, 31 Sub Area; Col. J. S. Chauhan, Director, Resettlement, Zone North; and non-official members, Maj. Gen. (Retd) G. S. Jamwal, President, J&K Ex-Services League; Maj. Gen. (Retd) S. K. Sharma, Sqn Ldr (Retd) R. S. Chib, Brig (Retd) K. S. Kotwal and Mr. B. S. Slathia, Advocate.
A detailed power point presentation was made by Brig. (Retd) R. S. Langeh, Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, on the occasion, detailing the measures taken for the welfare of the ex-servicemen, financial status of the Board, construction of Sainik Bhavans and the implementation of the various decisions taken in the last meeting of the Board.