New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the government has recognized the role and importance of private sector in the development of the country.
“Since 2014, when the NDA came into power, the government has encouraged the private sector to grow,” he said.
The minister said the defence sector which was out of bounds for the private sector, is now open to the Indian private sector also.
He said some revolutionary steps have been taken to encourage private sector participation in the defence manufacturing and urged the industries to come forward and get benefit out of these policies.
On Friday, the second edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day CSR Conclave was organised.
While presiding over the webinar, Mr Singh said in the process of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country the armed forces sometimes even lay down their lives, or are rendered disabled.
“Hence the rehabilitation and welfare of our Ex Servicemen, the next of kin of our martyrs and our disabled soldiers is the responsibility of all citizens,” the minister said.
“The Flag Day provides us an opportunity to fulfill this responsibility by contributing to the AFFD fund” he added.
Recalling the spirit of the services of ex servicemen, he said even during the difficult days of Covid-19 pandemic, they assisted the local administration in tasks like contact tracing, community surveillance and quarantine management.
He also said during the last few years, with the generous contribution of Indian industry through CSR, there has been a substantial addition to the AFFDF.
He thanked the industry for their contributions to the AFFD Fund last year and appealed to them to continue contributing to this noble cause.
AFFD fund is used for the rehabilitation and welfare of next of kin of those soldiers who lay down their lives in the line of duty, or rendered disabled, old, non-pensioners, widows and orphaned children.
