Ex-Servicemen Rally gets overwhelming response

Kurnool: It was an eventful Sunday for the ex-servicemen of the Armed forces, when the city of Kurnool came alive with a large number of veterans of Armed Forces belonging to Anantapur, Prakasham, Mahboobnagar and Kadapa districts thronged, tapping their feet and reviving their past memories while in service as the young blood standing proud of the sacrifices made by them.

Sound of Army Band aired with the playing of patriotic composition. The occasion was the Ex-Servicemen rally organized by Army Ordnance Corps Centre, Secunderabad under the aegis of Headquarter Dakshin Bharat Area in the city. Major General R G Krishnan VSM, Officiating General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Dakshin Bharat Area has graced the occasion and distributed cash rewards and gift hampers to our worthy veterans and Veer Naaris and interacted with them on the personal note also. Brigadier Dalip Singh, Commandant AOC Centre, Secunderabad, Mr. Ramana Kumar IPS,DIG Police Rayalaseema Range and other senior officials from Army were also present on the occasion.

The event was organised at TG Lakshmivenkatesha Kalyanamandapam, in Kurnool and about two thousand ex-servicemen, war widows, and veterans of World War II took part in the rally along with their kin and dependents. The event served as an occasion for bon-homie and bonding with the veterans and redressal of pension-related grievances as well as availing CSD facilities. Apart from being a forum for the young to honour elderly brethren, arrangements were also in place for medical and dental examination for the ex-servicemen. The rally was not only aimed at addressing the problems of Ex-Servicemen and their dependents but also helped in motivating the youth of these areas to join the Armed Forces.

Speaking on the occasion, Major General R G Krishnan advised the ex-servicemen and veterans to utilize all the facilities initiated by the government for their betterment. He said that Army is always ready to help them out to resolve their problem relating to their pension, medical and health facilities, however, he cautioned not to misuse the facilities meant for them.

A team of Army specialist doctors including medical and dental specialists and Para Medical staff of empanelled hospitals were also drafted in to extend medical care to the needy. Facilities for ECG and Laboratory were also established at the venue. Free medicines were distributed to the Ex-Servicemen and their dependents on this occasion. A special stall by Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme and Army Welfare Placement Organisation was also set up for benefits of veterans. A large number of ex-servicemen have thronged to the respective records offices stalls, set up on the occasion to deal with their queries and to sort out their pension related grievances. Some Banks also set up their stalls to offer the financial assistance and schemes to veterans.