A military approach towards welfare

General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, inaugurated the Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) at Delhi Cantt on Thursday with much fanfare. Located in an accessible area, the directorate shall provide a wide range of veteran care and support services, as also a single point of contact, or redress, to the veterans, 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, OBE and Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, MC in year 1953 and 1973 respectively. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) stressed the need to strengthen the institutional framework for veteran care and support in the Indian Army. He remarked that the raising of the DIAV marks the first step towards creating a coherent veteran care and support structure in India. 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. The COAS released the inaugural issue of SAMMAAN magazine, which is focussed on the role of veterans in national building. 

Several well known military and civil writers have given their views and opinions on this important topic. The event also witnessed the launch of Phase 2 and 3 of the Indian Army Veterans Web Portal. The ceremony was attended by the former Chiefs, a large number of senior serving and retired officers, widows and disabled soldiers and members of the wider veteran fraternity.