India
More than 200 Army veterans and their families from across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region came together on December 20 for the Army Veterans Connect Programme, an outreach initiative aimed at strengthening engagement between ex-servicemen and the serving leadership. The programme provided a dedicated platform for veterans to interact openly with senior officers, share their experiences, raise concerns, and offer suggestions related to welfare, healthcare, pensions and post-retirement support systems.
The event was presided over by Lt Gen DS Kushwah, General-Officer-Commanding of the Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area, who reaffirmed the Indian Army’s continued commitment to the welfare, dignity and well-being of its veteran fraternity. Addressing the gathering, the Area Commander expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by veterans and their families in safeguarding the nation, underlining that ex-servicemen remain an integral part of the larger Army family even after retirement from active service.
According to an official statement, the presence of senior veterans, war widows and family members lent the programme a strong sense of camaraderie, pride and mutual respect. During his address and subsequent interaction session, Lt Gen Kushwah highlighted a range of initiatives undertaken by the Area Headquarters to improve veteran outreach and ensure timely redressal of grievances.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the deployment of Military Intelligence Liaison (MIL) teams, which engage directly with veterans at the grassroots level. These teams are tasked with addressing local issues, resolving grievances and disseminating information related to welfare schemes and outreach programmes. The Area Commander also drew attention to joint reviews of Canteen Stores Department (CSD) facilities and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics conducted by Sub Areas, aimed at improving infrastructure and service delivery.
Veterans were encouraged to raise their issues directly with senior officers and representatives of welfare agencies during the interaction session. Discussions with state government representatives focused on addressing the shortfall of Zila Sainik Welfare Officers, enhancing employment opportunities for ex-servicemen in the Maharashtra Police through the Army Welfare Placement Organisation, improving reservation provisions in state government jobs, and strengthening district-level support mechanisms for veterans.
Officials from veteran-centric organisations also briefed attendees on initiatives such as SPARSH for pension management, ECHS for healthcare services, and the efforts of the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans and the Rajya Sainik Board to ensure seamless pension disbursal and quality medical care.
The programme also featured discussions on the proposed establishment of Sainik Sankul Complexes across Maharashtra. These integrated welfare hubs are planned to include boys’ and girls’ hostels, multipurpose halls, CSD outlets, ECHS polyclinics and veterans’ welfare offices at locations including Amravati, Beed, Chiplun, Mahad, Dharashiv, Pandharpur and Dhule. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive, one-stop support system for veterans and their families across the state.
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