7th Pay Commission team visits Ladakh Interacts with soldiers to know their difficulties in high-altitude areas 3

Jammu, October 14

Chairman of the 7th Central Pay Commission Justice AK Mathur in Ladakh. A Tribune Photograph

The 7th Central Pay Commission team headed by its chairman, Justice AK Mathur, have visited the Siachen Glacier, highest battlefield in the world, and other Army formations in Ladakh to get first-hand knowledge of hardships being faced by the men in olive green.

“The team included full-time member Vivek Rae, secretary Meena Agarwal and 14 other members. They visited Ladakh from October 12,” said a Defence spokesperson.

On its arrival in Leh, the delegation visited the headquarters of the Fire and Fury Corps (14 Corps), where they were welcomed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Lt Gen BS Negi.

The delegation was briefed on peculiarities of difficult terrain, inclement weather and challenging operational conditions under which soldiers performed duties in the Siachen Glacier and other parts of Ladakh. The delegation was briefed at the Air Force Station in Leh.

“At the base camp of the Siachen Glacier, the members spent time interacting with soldiers and experiencing their tough life. They witnessed ice craft and mountaineering training being carried out at the Siachen Battle School,” he said.

They flew over the entire Siachen Glacier and landed at a forward post to get familiarised with the difficult conditions under which soldiers performed duty, he added.

In addition to the Siachen Glacier, the members visited remote posts in eastern Ladakh, bordering China. They landed at Daulat Beg Oldie, highest landing ground in the world, to experience the hardships being faced by soldiers in the area.

The members interacted with personnel of the Air Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation as well. The members laid wreaths at the Siachen, Kargil and Rezangla war memorials.

Lt Gen Negi thanked Justice Mathur and other members for visiting forward areas and experiencing the difficulties being faced by soldiers deployed in the areas.

The concern displayed by members of the commission during the interactions boosted the morale of soldiers, he said.

(sOURCE-Tribune News Service)