Seminar Conducted at IESL on 22 Oct 2010
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Dear Veterans,
Seminar on Military Veterans Vision-2025, was held in IESL auditorium as planned on 22nd Oct 2010. The Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri was present throughout for more than three hours. It was a very interesting and useful interaction by large number of Senior Veterans with RRM in Q&A forum. Each one was very happy about the complete event of interaction. Details are being forwarded separately. Copy of Welcome addressed by the President IESL is attached. Before inauguration of Seminar the Hon’ble RRM had unveiled the bust of late Field Marshal K M Cariappa, OBE.
With warm regards!
Gen Secretary
IESL
Welcome Address
1. It is my proud privilege to extend a hearty and warm welcome to our Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr M M Pallam Raju to the Seminar on “Military Veterans Vision-2025, Their Role in nation Building and National Security”. The Seminar will also deliberate on certain vital issues particularly concerning Veer Naaris and Disabled Soldiers. Dr M M Pallam Raju needs no introduction. The fraternity of Military Veterans has a strong proponent of its cause in Dr M M Pallam Raju as witnessed lately. The Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri lent his unstinting support to most of our demands during and post Sixth Central Pay Commission. We are indeed grateful to you, Sir (glancing at RRM) to have spared your valuable time from a otherwise tightly packed schedule to unveil the bust of late Field Marshal K M Cariappa, OBE, and also to interact with Military Veterans at Indian Ex-Services League (IESL). I also extend a warm welcome to our distinguished speakers who so willingly consented to talk on the subject proposed to them and the delegates representing various states and union territories who have arrived to participate in the Seminar. I am particularly thankful to Gen Shankar Roy Choudhury who on my request made it all the way from Calcutta on a short notice.
2. The League came into being in 1964 by amalgamating All India Ex-services Federation and the Indian Ex-Services Association headed by late Field Marshal K M Cariappa, OBE and late Gen K S Thimayya, DSO respectively. The League is the premier Inter Services Organisation representing the entire community of Ex-Servicemen in the country. It is the only recognised body of Veterans endowed with the apex status by Seventh Lok Sabha through its special resolution passed in 1982. The League is mandated to articulate the grievances of its 3.3 million strong veterans at various levels through its affiliated Ex-Services Leagues at all the states and Union Territories of the country. A few of the multifarious activities undertaken by the League include disbursement of distress grant to the veterans in dire state, education stipends to deserving wards of Ex-Servicemen and RCEL grant including medical grant to WW-II Veterans and Widows not getting pension. The League had disbursed an amount of approximately Rs 200 lacs under various heads during last year. The IESL is affiliated to similar Veterans Organisations of the world like Britain, Canada, Russia, France, Singapore, Australia and World War Veterans Body.
3. The Military Veterans have large number of issues which need to be addressed. The Ex-Servicemen Welfare Deptt created by the Govt has fallen totally short of expectations. It has been staffed by those who have no clue about problems being faced by Veterans and Widows. The deptt is totally insensitive to their projections. MOD has been filing appeals against each and every decision of Hon’ble Courts going in favour of Ex-Servicemen Community. Regrettably there is a perceived feeling that the Govt is indifferent to towards Military Veterans. Sir, I am optimistic with you and Hon’ble RM Sh A K Antony being there at the helm of affairs, we should expect a fair deal and reversal of this negative perception.
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