Southern Army Commander Reports Positive Response from 11 Chief Ministers on Veterans' Role
Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth announced on Wednesday that he has received enthusiastic responses from Chief Ministers of 11 states regarding the potential contributions of armed forces veterans to the Viksit Bharat vision. The announcement came during the 10th Defence Forces Veterans Day celebrations held at the Air Force Station in Pune.
Large Gathering of Veterans in Pune
Over 4000 armed forces veterans gathered at the Air Force Station Pune to mark this special day. The event honors the legacy and service of Late Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who served as the First Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army and retired on January 14, 1953.
Senior military officers and Maharashtra's Minister of Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil attended the celebrations. The gathering included Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi, Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Air Vice Marshal Gurjot Singh Bhullar, and Air Commodore Satbir Singh Rai among other distinguished guests.
Detailed Letters to State Chief Ministers
Lieutenant General Seth explained his initiative in detail. "When I assumed command as the Southern Army Commander, I wrote detailed letters to the Chief Ministers of the 11 states within our area of responsibility," he stated during his address.
The Army Commander shared specific information with the state leaders:
- Exact numbers of ex-servicemen residing in each state
- Detailed profiles of veterans' various skill sets
- Specific ways veterans could contribute to Viksit Bharat objectives
"These letters have received very enthusiastic responses from all the states," Lt Gen Seth confirmed. "The work has begun in the right direction."
Veterans' Frontline Role Recognized
The Southern Army Commander highlighted the crucial role veterans play during national emergencies. "During Operation Sindoor, our veterans extended great help to our forces," he recalled. "Adversaries have come to realize that veterans play a frontline role when threats emerge against our nation."
He emphasized that the country salutes this spirit of service among veterans, acknowledging their continued commitment even after retirement.
Project Naman: Supporting Veterans Nationwide
A significant focus of the Veterans Day event involved Project Naman, an initiative designed to provide comprehensive support to defence pensioners, veterans, and their families. The project centers around implementing the SPARSH digital pension system, which streamlines pension-related processes.
Lieutenant General Seth shared concrete progress:
- 100 Naman Centres have become operational with a target of 200 by January 2027
- 40 centres already established within the Southern Command's area of responsibility
- The project provides single-platform solutions for SPARSH-related issues and document assistance
Educational Sessions for Veterans
The Veterans Day celebrations featured educational components aimed at enhancing awareness among veterans and their dependents. Key topics covered during the event included:
- Pension-related matters and grievance resolution
- Financial assistance programs and welfare schemes
- Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) details
Veterans and their family members received encouragement to voice their problems, concerns, and suggestions during interactive sessions. Expert lectures were conducted by representatives from the Directorate of Air Veterans, Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, and Zila Sainik Kalyan Board.
The event successfully created a platform for dialogue between veterans and support organizations while highlighting the valuable contributions retired service members can make to national development goals.
