Armed Forces Support Mission to begin in first week of April

A massive signature campaign to support the arm forces was announced here on Thursday.

The campaign will begin in the first week of April.

Called the 'Armed Forces Support Mission', the campaign will cover 350 cities in the country and aims to set a world record by raising Rs 50 crore for the forces from 5 crore signees, its organisers said.

A minimum amount of Rs 10 is to be collected from each signee, which will be deposited in the National Defence Fund, set up to take charge of voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilisation with the prime minister being the chairperson of its executive committee, they said.

The programme is a collaborative effort by M K Sharma (an ex-banker), the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT), Creates Trust, Mother India Crochet Queens, Election Awaaz, Indian Skills Development Council, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, among others.

"We aim at making it to the Guinness Book of Records by collecting Rs 50 crore and five crore signatures," said Sandeep Marwah, director of AAFT and founder of Noida Film City.

"The amount so collected will be deposited in the National Defence Fund for the benefit/welfare of Indian Armed Forces. Each signee will be given a certificate and an official receipt of the amount collected by us along with deposit particulars of the National Defense Fund. The names of the signee/donors will be published on the website afsm.org.in," he added.

Marwah said even though the government was doing its bit to support the forces, it was time the people make similar efforts.

J P Singh of Election Awaaz said signatures could be made on the ground as well as online on the dedicated website.