Lansdowne, Uttarakhand, October 5, 2025: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday participated in the Shaheed Samman Diwas in Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, honoring the bravery and supreme sacrifice of martyrs.
During the event, CM Dhami presented copper plates and ceremonial robes to the families of martyrs and inspected the Army band, extending his greetings to the personnel. He paid homage at the statue of Amar Shaheed Gabbar Singh Negi, stating that the nation’s safety today is due to the courage of soldiers like him.
The Chief Minister also lit lamps before copper urns containing sacred soil collected from the courtyards of martyrs across districts. This soil will be enshrined in the upcoming Sainya Dham (Military Shrine) in Dehradun.
Announcing welfare measures, CM Dhami said the Sainik Vishram Griha in Kotdwar would be renovated with modern facilities, and common service centers will provide free services through veer naris and ex-servicemen in the Directorate of Sainik Welfare and District offices.
He added that the ex-gratia amount for martyrs’ families has been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, with Rs 10,000 assistance for last rites. Soldiers also receive a 25% stamp duty exemption on land purchases.
Military Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi noted that the Shaheed Samman Samaroh 2.0 successfully concluded in Lansdowne, marking the end of the second phase of the Yatra, which began in Dehradun on September 25. The sacred soil from 71 martyrs will be placed in the Amar Jawan Jyoti before the inauguration of the military shrine.
Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt praised Uttarakhand as both Devbhoomi and Veerbhoomi, emphasizing that martyrs are immortal heroes whose sacrifices ensure the nation’s freedom and security. He reiterated that respect and support for soldiers and their families remain a top priority for both the central and state governments.
