Year of disabled soldiers on line of duty on 13 December 2018

On Dec 14, 2018

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – As a mark of gratitude and recognition for the selfless service and sacrifices by soldiers who became disabled in the line of duty, Indian Army declared year 2018 as “Year of the Disabled Soldiers in line of duty”. To commemorate the same a ‘Samman Samaroh’ was organised by Headquarters Southern Command on 13 December 2018 at Bombay Engineering Group (BEG) & Centre, Kirkee, Pune. The event commenced with a wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial of Bombay Engineering Group (BEG) & Centre, Kirkee by Lieutenant General S K Saini, AVSM, YSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lieutenant General S K Prashar, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area, Mrs Mukta Tilak Mayor, Pune and Disabled Soldiers. The event saw coming together of 600 Disabled soldiers from Southern, South Western and Central Command and participation from prominent disabled soldiers like India’s first Paralympics gold medalist and Padmashree Awardee Naik Murlikant Petkar (Retd), President of War Wounded Foundation of India, Lieutenant General Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) and India’s first blade runner Major D P Singh (Retd).

Welcoming entire disabled soldiers Lieutenant General S K Saini, AVSM, YSM, VSM, assuured support to disabled soldiers in Southern Command Area of responsibility and admired their sprit. Army Commander also mentioned that Pune is hosting four primer institutions and yeomen service provided by them for disabled soldiers.

General Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, ADC, Chief of Army Staff was the chief guest for the event. Addressing all the disabled soldiers present on the occasion the Chief of Army Staff said that Army is proud of its soldiers and assured that Army will take proper care of its Disabled Solders who have got disabled while fighting and serving their motherland. A Magazine published by Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) dedicated to the veterans was unveiled by the chief guest during the function. The disabled soldier showcased their musical talent in form of a song. The event was marked by felicitation of all the Disabled Soldiers present during the function. Chief of Army Staff presented fourteen modified scooter to the disabled soldiers during the event.

Chief of Army Staff visited various stalls setup by welfare agencies like Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), Queen Mary’s Technical Institute (QMTI), Artificial Limb Centre (ALC), Ex-Serviceman Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Kendriya Sainik Board to assist the Disabled Soldiers in becoming self-reliant. A stall by PCDA (Allahabad) was also setup to address pay/spension related grievances of Disabled Soldiers. Specialist and Super Specialist healthcare and advisory services were made available to the disabled soldiers in the stalls setup by Command Hospital, Pune. To assist and guide the Disabled Soldiers in their resettlement and job placement, stalls by various placement agencies were also setup.
The primary focus of the event was to reach out to soldiers who while selflessly serving the nation became disabled for life. The event turned out to be a huge success and fostered the spirit of camaraderie in the Indian Army.