7th ARMED FORCES VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AT PANAGARH.

The 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day is being celebrated with all the military fervor and gaiety at nine locations across the country, namely  Juhunjhunu, Jalandhar, *Panagarh*, New Delhi, Dehradun, Chennai, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar & Mumbai by the Three Service Headquarters all around the country.  

Veterans’ Day celebrations at Panagarh Military Station began with more than 3500 Veterans & their dependents arriving early in the morning from Birbhum, Bankura & Bardhaman districts of West Bengal. This was the first such large scale interaction with Veterans planned in Panagarh post lifting of COVID restrictions in last two years & turnout in such large numbers was a very welcome surprise especially considering the sudden change in weather conditions turning foggy & cold in the morning, direct result of the proactive outreach campaign by specially constituted "Satat Milap Teams" of Brahmastra Corps & indomitable spirit of Veterans from Birbhum, Bankura & Bardhaman districts of West Bengal.  

Honouring our Braveheart & Saluting their selfless devotion, a solemn Wreath laying ceremony was organised at Brahmastra Yudh Smarak in the morning. The  ceremony was attended by Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS for Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC (Retd), former member Armed Forces Tribunal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief South Western Command & Colonel of the MAHAR Regiment, was the senior most Veteran present during the ceremony and along with Hony Capt Bhagirath Samal, Arjuna Awardee & Sub Aniruddha Kundu (Retd) represented the Veterans. GOC Brahmastra Corps along with Capt T Suresh Kumar, CRSO Indian Navy represented the serving fraternity. 

 

The next event, the Veterans Rally began with the welcome note on behalf of Lt Gen RP Kalita, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, SM, General Officer Commanding -in-Chief Eastern Command welcoming all the Veer Naris, Widows, Veterans, Serving personnel & their  dependents to the event. Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways was the Chief Guest for the event, the *Veterans Rally*.  Addressing the gathering, Shri Shantanu Thakur acknowledged that it was a matter of great honour for him to be present on this auspicious occasion at Panagarh today & complemented the Armed Forces & Eastern Command for organizing the event. Shri Thakur said

“Today’s Warrior is tomorrow’s Veteran and what an example being set up by the Services in ensuring every possible step to ensure wellbeing and enhanced satisfaction level among its veterans.  I am proud of this initiative of the Armed Force, which is very much in line with customs and traditions of our great Country”. He further informed the audience about the various initiatives in pension, welfare & healthcare related schemes of the Central Government including latest announcements of revision of pension wef 01 Jul 2019 under One Rank One pension (OROP) decision of 23 Dec 2023, financial assistance schemes for wards of defence personnel, enhancement of monetary ceiling for purchase of Not Available (NA), emergent, lifesavings and essential drugs from Authorised Local Chemists (ALC) by 100% in all categories of polyclinics ensuring easy & timely availability of medicines for ECHS beneficiaries. (Type A & B from Rs 2.5 lakh to 5 Lakh, Type C from Rs 1.5 lakh to 3 Lakh, Type D from Rs 1 lakh to 2 Lakh). He further assured that the Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure welfare and well being of its Veteran fraternity. The address was followed by the felicitation of Veer Naris by the Hon’ble MoS Shri Shantanu Thakur. 

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Guest of Honour & Seniormost Veteran at the event, Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC (Retd) stressed that “बदलाव जीवन का एकअभिन्न अंग है और आज हमें अपनी सेना को समय के साथ उचित रफ़्तार से आगे बढ़ते देख फक्र होता है, यह बदलाव हमारी सेना को और बेहतर व विश्व स्तरीय प्रोफेशनल आर्मी बनाएगा. हम सभी को अपने पूर्वजों अपनी सीखिलाई और आपके जज्बे पर नाज़ है.” Post address, as a mark of empowering the disabled Veterans, he gifted wheel chairs to six Veterans. 

Also, the audience was addressed by representatives from Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV); PCDA (Pension); Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) & Records offices explaining various new developments & schemes towards empowerment of Veterans. 

 

The celebrations in Panagarh Military Station were held under the aegis of Brahmastra Corps. Stalls from PCDA (Pension), Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV), Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Record Offices (Infantry, Artillery, Signals, EME, ASC, AOC, AMC, Engineers & Navy), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) as well as a Medical Camp with multiple specialist facilities including Medical, Surgical, Ortho, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Eye, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat), Dental etc, Banking & CSD facilities catering to the needs of the Veterans were established at the venue of the Veterans Day Rally.  Multiple activities including regional dances, Kalaripayattu and combined Military Band performances displaying the rich cultural heritage will were also conducted during the event. 

8. Considering the huge turnout of Veterans, the timings at various assistance stalls were extended by three hrs.