Nearly two months after Union government launched a mobile application and a website for citizens to donate money for the welfare of armed forces killed in the line of duty, the initiative has been able to raise nearly Rs 8 crore, says a report in The Times of India.
The collected amount has been already disbursed among several families of the slain soldiers.
A Home Ministry official informed TOI that an amount of Rs 7,93,90,858 has been donated to the fund by individual citizens and organisations till now.
The website and app ‘BharatKeVeer‘ was launched in April this year by Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. The idea of a citizens-fund for soldiers was mooted by Kumar and the proposal translated into a reality after Home Ministry’s nod.
In a video message to public on Thursday, Singh thanked people for their contributions. He also said it’s the responsibility of the people to honour sacrifices of soldiers.
During its launch in April, Singh had said the welfare of soldiers is his “top priority.”
He had also said that country will remain indebted to its soldiers forever, saying, “hum aapka ehsaan kabhi nahi utaar payenge” as he lauded the men and women of paramilitary forces deployed for operations in some of the most difficult areas of the country.
Watch Rajnath Singh’s video message for soldiers
Feature image source: BharatKeVeer