Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, VrC
The image of Armed Forces in post-independence era has been deliberately and systematically eroded by the external and internal enemies of the country in an effort to dilute and weaken this only institution that stood by successive governments through thick and thin in war, peace and came to support in all difficult situations, natural and manmade calamities. However the Armed Forces nationalism stood stead fast despite these degradations and humiliations and still holds a firm commitment to the cause of the Nation.
Since 1949, 7th December is observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country to honor the martyrs and the men in uniform who valiantly fought on our borders to safeguard the country’s honor. There cannot be a nobler cause than laying down one’s life for the country. At the same time, our admiration for the martyrs should not mean that we have little time for the living heroes who were wounded while doing their duty towards their motherland or their widows and children whom they left behind in this ungrateful nation to fend for themselves.
During the course of achieving victories, in the various wars the nation has fought and in combating the ongoing cross-border terrorism and insurgency, our Armed Forces have lost and continue to lose valuable lives as well as leaving quite a few disabled. The trauma that the family suffers on demise of the head of the family is hard to fathom. Those of our men who are disabled require care and rehabilitation so that they do not become a burden on their family and can instead lead a life of dignity. Furthermore, there are Ex- servicemen who suffer from serious diseases such as Cancer, Heart ailments and Joint Replacement etc. and who cannot afford the high cost of treatment. Hence, they too need our care and support.
The requirement of keeping our Armed Forces young necessitates the release of our service personnel at 35-40 years of age when they are still young, physically fit and have qualities of discipline, drive and leadership. Every year about 60, 000 Defence personnel are compulsorily retired. Caring for these ex-soldiers and their families is therefore a national responsibility.
Many brave and gallant heroes from the Armed forces have laid down their lives in the service of the country. Ongoing counter-insurgency operations have also left many broken homes without a breadwinner. A few who survive after brave acts of gallantry are our honour as living legends. Flag Day brings to the forefront our obligation of looking after our disabled comrades-in-arms, widows and dependents of those who have sacrificed their lives for the country.
It is for these reasons, we observe the Armed Forces Flag Day. On this day the services rendered by personnel of Army, Navy and Air Force are remembered. It is the collective duty of every citizen to ensure rehabilitation and welfare of the dependents of our brave martyrs and disabled personnel. The Flag Day gives us an opportunity to contribute most generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF).
A concerted effort is made on this day to raise collections from the public. The significance of the Day is brought home through electronic and print media. In some places, Armed Forces formations and units also arrange variety shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes. Token Flags and Car Stickers in red, deep blue and light colours, representing the three Services are distributed to the public throughout the country by the Kendriya Sainik Board. Kendriya Sainik Board is responsible for administration of AFFDF. The fund is operated by a Managing Committee, headed by Raksha Mantri at the Centre and Governor / Lt Governor at the State / UT level. Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), an apex body of the Government of India, formulates and operates various welfare and rehabilitation schemes for Ex Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents through a network of 32 Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and 385 Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) co-located in the State Capitals and District HQs respectively, across the country.
In J&K the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) is presently headed by a very dedicated son of soil and a second generation Army Officer called Brig Harcharan Singh, operating from RSB office at Amphalla Jammu. Under his dynamic and devoted skill the RB has emerged as an effective office of solace to the 1.05 lakh pensioners (mostly young of average age below 45 years) and their 5/6 lakh dependents. There are also separated families of some 50,000 serving soldiers whose bread earners are on borders from Rann of Kutch to the Mayanmar borders and the Internal Security duties all over from time to time. Worst off are the 10,000 non pensioners including some 4,000 non pensioner
widows.
The moral responsibility of Citizen
Government measures at the Centre and the State level alone are inadequate to provide support to the disabled, non-pensioner, old and infirm ESM, their families, war widows and orphaned children. It, therefore, becomes the collective responsibility of each citizen to make his/her unstinted and voluntary contribution towards providing care, support, rehabilitation and financial help to them. The welfare schemes undertaken from the collective contribution is brought out in succeeding paragraphs.
The immediate concern is to care for the widows, especially those not receiving pensions. The Dy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh with the Lions’ Club Samba has started some initiative under the aegis of RSB when the conscious well to do noble citizen have come forward to adopt the widowed families and help them in care, official dealings/ documentation, educational guidance, banking/ fund management and healthcare etc. Though welcome but it is so far a drop in the ocean. Some NGOs and other voluntary agencies have come forward and with Flag day collections the RSB is mustering to pay Rs1,,000 per non-pensioner widow in a year. Though, a commendable solace it has little substance.
This year the Director RSB is planning various activities to create a vital connection between the Ex-servicemen (ESM) fraternity and the Society at large. Co-opting with the RSB the Art and Culture department is planning Art and Song completion and blood donation camps. A Pune based Society called Asian Foundation has offered free on line facility to get second Medical Opinion for ESM/widows. Similarly Atherwa Education trust Mumbai and the Red Cross Society has some programmes. Yet the sum total of situation in J&K is dismal and of deprivation with a crying need for NGOs, State Government, and the Corporate sectors to come forward and rescue and provide for these families that have given their best years of life, and in many cases their life itself depriving old parents young wives and small children of the only bread earner, guardian and care taker— all for the sake of nation and it’s ungrateful citizen. Things are worst in the Kashmir Valley where there are substantial number of ESM from JAK LI and other Arms and Services who are ‘disowned’ by the society and government for having served in central government forces.
Flag Day is a curt reminder to them all who sleep in cozy environs at the cost of these brave lads who brave the vagaries’ of climate, snow, avalanches and treacherous enemy infiltration and attacks by BAT teams caring not for the adverse propaganda and the step motherly treatment meted out to them in glaring contrast to other stats of India and other leading Armies of the world.
(The author is distinguished Veteran Warrior turned Journalist. He is J&K State Director of the ‘War Decorated India’ and committed to various social welfare initiatives. He can be visited at <[email protected]>)
