Army chief inaugurates Directorate of Indian Army Veterans

Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag inaugurated the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans here today when the force celebrated the first-ever Veterans Day, even as the ex-servicemen continued their protests over the 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme.
Located in Delhi Cantonment, the directorate will provide a wide range of veteran care and support services, as also a single point of contact, or redress, to the veterans and their widows and wards residing across the country.
The inauguration of the new directorate under the Adjutant General Branch coincides with the first-ever celebration of Veterans Day in the Indian Army.
The day marks the relinquishment of active service by India's two most well-known military leaders Field Marshal KM Cariappa and Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw in 1953 and 1973, respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Suhag stressed the need to strengthen the institutional framework for veteran care and support in the Indian Army.
He said that the raising of the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) marks the first step towards creating a coherent veteran care and support structure in India.

He added that there is more that needs to be done at the last mile, which will follow consequent to the raising of the new directorate.
Building on the existing framework of Army HQ Veterans Cell, the DIAV is organised into four verticals, namely Policy and Outreach, Pension and Entitlements, Benefits and Services and Career Transition Planning Sections.

Each vertical will be headed by a Director-level officer fully versed in veteran matters and duly assisted by a mix of serving and retired officers.
To mark the occasion, the Army chief also released the inaugural issue of 'Samaan' magazine, which is focussed on the role of veterans in national building.
The ex-servicemen have been protesting against the government's stand on the 'One Rank, One Pension' issue.