Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 2: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra has received prestigious Param Vishishat Seva Medal (PVSM) from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, for his exceptional services and outstanding leadership today.
This great honour to the Northern Army Commander, was conferred at a glittering Defence Investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan here today.
A professional soldier, with sterling leadership qualities, Gen Chachra took over reins of the operationally active Northern Command on July Ist, 2013 and conceptualized a realistic, practical and dynamic joint strategy in conjunction with the civil administration, State police and Central para-military forces to combat terrorism in J&K State. As a result of excellent synergy between the Indian Army, Civil administration, other security and intelligence agencies, militants attempting to infiltrate have been systematically targeted and their leadership eliminated in hinterland in a series of successful operation in the last 6 months.
During his command of the Northern Army, there has been a significant improvement in the development infrastructure for serving soldiers deployed in extremely challenging and inhospitable terrain and initiation of a number of initiatives for the welfare of the veterans (ex-servicemen), `Veer Naris’ and their dependants. The General officer, has been instrumental in the initiation of a number of developmental initiatives for the welfare of the J&K people, reflecting his genuine love and concern for them.
A strong votary of zero tolerance, towards human rights violations, Gen Chachra has directed commanders at all levels to ensure that troops maintain highest standards of professionalism by showing fullest restraint and conduct people friendly operations with no collateral damage and inconvenience to the local population. This award to him is an apt recognition of the valiant efforts of the troops in the Northern Command led by Lt Gen Chachra.