Gangtok, Apr 25: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday announced a 20% reservation for Agniveer veterans in the recruitment of Sikkim Police Constables. The announcement was made during the valedictory ceremony of the six-day Military-Civil Fusion Convergence Capsule held in Gangtok, which was also attended by Governor Om Prakash Mathur, senior Army officers, state ministers, and officials.

Alongside the reservation policy, the Chief Minister introduced a 10-year upper age limit relaxation for ex-servicemen who have completed at least six months in service, allowing them to apply for police constable posts until the age of 50. He also announced shop allotments and other livelihood support measures for veterans.

The Military-Civil Fusion Convergence Capsule, the first such initiative in Sikkim, focused on enhancing synergy between the armed forces and civil administration in border regions. It was attended by General Officer Commanding 33 Corps Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla, Chief Secretary R. Telang, DGP Akshay Sachdeva, and other senior officials.

In his address, Governor Mathur expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for choosing Sikkim as the host state for the initiative. He emphasized the importance of civil-military collaboration for national security and development, particularly in border states. He proposed that Sikkim observe “Nathula Vijay Diwas” annually on September 11 to commemorate the 1967 India-China conflict, replacing the current observance of “Nathula Day.”

Governor Mathur also called for the formation of a core coordination committee comprising representatives from the Army, police, paramilitary forces, and civil administration to address rising concerns such as youth mental health and suicide rates. He praised the Army’s role during the 2023 flash floods and emphasized continued cooperation on infrastructure projects and disaster preparedness.

Chief Minister Tamang, in his keynote address, condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He praised the Indian Army’s contributions to Sikkim’s development and security, particularly in infrastructure, disaster response, and maintaining peace in sensitive areas.

Highlighting the importance of ex-servicemen as a valuable human resource, he said the state is integrating them into sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and disaster management through the establishment of cooperatives and skill centres. He underlined that military-civil fusion is a strategic approach aligned with India’s self-reliance goals under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Lt Gen Zubin A Minwalla stressed the need for a whole-of-nation and whole-of-government approach to national security, highlighting that civil infrastructure like roads and hospitals is critical for both defense and public benefit. He called for stronger links between the Army, civil administration, industry, and academia to advance military technologies.

The programme also featured presentations on veteran engagement, border tourism, and disaster management strategies. Highlights included Sikkim Ranbhoomi Darshan, aimed at promoting tourism in border areas while honoring soldiers, and Veterans Se Sanjhedari, which showcased the role of ex-servicemen in social development.

A detailed assessment of the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood was presented by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Science and Technology, offering key insights into risk reduction and response mechanisms.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Brigadier Arjun K, Deputy GOC of 17 Mountain Division, marking the end of the convergence capsule and reaffirming Sikkim’s commitment to civil-military partnership for national progress.