NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged to the people to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, and solicited the private sector to provide employment opportunities to around 60,000 soldiers who retire at young age every year.

Speaking at the Armed Forces Flag Day CSR Conclave in New Delhi today, he made a special statement of a soldier's message enshrined on the Kohima War Memorial in Nagaland, which read: When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today".  He asserted that helping the soldiers and their families was the nation's collective and moral duty.

"Since independence, our military have responded to every challenge with courage and promptness, whether it was to fight wars or counter terrorist activity from across the border. Many of them gave the ultimate sacrifice in the process, and many of them suffered severe disabilities. They are solely responsible for their family. Therefore, it is ultimately our job to step up and provide our troops and their families with all the assistance they need. We sleep soundly and live without worry because to our gallant warriors who are constantly vigilant at the borders "Rajnath said.

The Defence Minister also discussed how many military people retire between the ages of 35 and 40 in order to keep the Armed forces' youthful appearance.

Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the government's dedication to the welfare of the nation's valiant heroes and noted that numerous steps have been taken in this regard. Among the projects is the "Bharat Ke Veer" portal, which was established for the welfare of the officers and jawans of the Central Armed Police Forces while Rajnath Singh was the Home Minister.

"The welfare of soldiers, who secure our national security, should not be the responsibility of only the government, but should be the duty of everybody," the defence minister said.

He emphasised that businesses and industries cannot grow in a nation with weak national security. He urged the fraternity to make further contributions for the benefit of the soldiers and the country as a whole, praising the support of major business donors in recent years for the fund's significant growth.

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