'About dozen former soldiers given scooties, wheelchairs in J-K'

Nearly a dozen former soldiers, facing different kinds of disabilities, were provided scooties and wheelchairs at a rally organised by Army here to reach out to the ex-servicemen and mitigate their problems.

A veteran of three wars was among three retired personnel who were given the scooties at the rally presided over by General Officer Commanding of Rising Star Corps Lt Gen Y U K Mohan.

Army is duty-bound to address the problems being faced by the ex-servicemen, widows of martyrs and 'Veer Naris'. The rally is an attempt to inform the retired personnel of the latest schemes, listen to their problems and try to address them, the Army commander said.

Acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions of the veterans during their service, Lt Gen Mohan assured the gathering that the Army and the government has been sensitive to the needs of the people of the border areas and would take all steps to ensure that they are adequately looked after in a befitting manner.

The mega veterans rally-cum-medical camp was organised under the aegis of the Gurj Division and was attended by a large number of military and civil dignitaries, including over 1,200 veterans and 'Veer Naris', from Samba and Jammu district.

Lance Naik Babu Ram, a veteran of 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars, was given a scooty to help him move around without any problem.

He had suffered splinter injuries while defending the borders in the 1971 war during his posting in the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Division, a defence spokesperson said.

Havaldar Janak Raj and Naik Surat Singh were also provided the scooties. While Raj of 14 Rajput regiment, who served the country from 1982 to 2007, had lost his leg in a mine blast during patrolling along the border, Singh of 221 medium regiment lost his left leg in an accident while on duty in 1997.

The spokesperson said the move to provide mobility equipment to disabled veterans was in accordance with the decision to observe 2018 as the 'Year of Disabled Soldiers'.

The event was also marked by felicitation of 25 'Veer Naris', mostly widows of martyrs.

We are very thankful to the Army for the rally to address the problems being faced by the ex-servicemen. All facilities under one roof is a good initiative, besides the medical facility, Jaswant Slathia, a retired Colonel, said.

Bodh Raj, another retired soldier, said the effort is praise worthy.

I was facing certain problems with regard to my pension and got an opportunity to raise my issue with the Corps commander and I am hopeful of my problems getting resolved very soon, he said.

Ex-servicemen welfare association president Suraj Singh said he invited the attention of the corps commander to the demand of the locals of Kathua and Samba for a recruitment rally.

The participants also thronged the medical camp, where doctors, including various specialists like medicine, ortho, eye, ENT, pediatrician, gynaecologist, surgeon and ayurveda rendered medical advice, carried out medical checkup and distributed medicines for free.