New Delhi: "It is said that building organisation, commanding respect and earning property are difficult, however, more difficult it is to maintain these," said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while giving away the Raksha Mantri's Award for Excellence to various cantonment boards.

"Cantonment boards are doing the important work of managing defence land with an area of more than 17 lakh acres, catering to the land requirements of the three wings of the Armed Forces and providing civil and municipal services to over 20 lakh residents of 62 cantonment areas of the country" Singh mentioned in his speech.

Pune bagged 3 of the Raksha Mantri's Award for Excellence in various categories. Pune Cantonment Board got awarded for 'Improvement in Modus Operandi of Schools of cantonments Boards' for both primary and secondary schools and 'Improvement in Cantonment General Hospitals' category.

Delhi cantonment board got the award for category A in Swachh Chawani – Swasth Chawani category and 'Achievement in the field of digitisation' award. Ahmedabad cantonment got the Excellence in Defence Estates Management award in category B of Swachh Chawani – Swasth Chawani. Award for 'Arrangements of centres for handicapped children' went to Kanpur cantonment board.

Defence Estates Officer (DEO) Secunderabad Circle bagged the award for 'Land & Record Management' category while 'Innovative procedures in public services' award went to Cantonment Board Mhow.

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Secretary (Defence Finance) Gargi Kaul, Director General Defence Estates Deepa Bajwa and other senior military and civil officials of the Ministry of Defence were also present on the occasion.