BENGALURU: Army veterans along with war widows on Saturday participated in a mega veterans’ rally, aimed at resolving their grievances. Lt Gen R.K. Anand, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Dakshin Bharat Area, assured the veterans that their welfare is one of the top priorities of the Indian Army. “Recent changes in the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) ensured the availability of medicines at ECHS clinics. Pension for the wives of war veterans of World War II have been doubled,” he said.
Lt Gen Anand, however, highlighted the issue of corruption in army canteens, where veterans were found to have illegally sold liquor to unauthorised persons.
Major General K.S. Nijjar, GOC Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area, said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Bipin Rawat has promised 2018 to be the year of the disabled. “The problems of soldiers injured during counter-insurgency operations, will be resolved,” he said.
To improve the lives of army veterans, an effort to create call centres is being considered as this would redress the problems more than the usual prolonged process. Anupama Anand, President, Army Wives’ Welfare Association, felicitated the Veer Naris (term used to identify the war widows). To keep the veterans abreast of the developments and latest policies, the rally commenced with their registration followed by free medical and dental check-up.
