The Year of the War Disabled

Dear Chander,
You must have read the press reports regarding the announcement of this year as The Year of the War Disabled by the COAS. The genesis lies in a meeting I had with the Chief, at my behest, wherein I had pointed out the need to view the war disabled as a distinct and important group that had been neglected for decades. I followed it up with a brief, a copy of which I am enclosing. This was around mid-2010. Now that the Chief has made the announcement, I can place the points I had made public, so that everyone can peruse them and perhaps add or subtract other relevant issues. In addition, we may be able to keep a tag on progress on some, if not all the issues.
I must add that besides the announcement by the Chief, both Hari Handa (President DIWAVE) and I have had a fruitful dialogue with the AG and the senior Generals in the AG's Branch and Hari has been having periodic meetings with the staff at the AG's Branch.
It is a somewhat long paper, firstly for you to put on the web and secondly for people to read it; as we all know, many do not like to read anything more than a page or so! It also involves additional work for you, especially when you have your hands full already.
I have also written an article on the subject of the War Disabled, which is yet to be published; it is now lying with the second newspaper! Once it is published, I will also circulate it.
Warm regards.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, Former VCOAS, President War Wounded Foundation
Problems of War Disabled

Army to observe 2011 as year for disabled soldiers
New Delhi. The Indian Army will observe 2011 as the year for its disabled personnel to honour the soldiers who have been rendered handicapped while serving the nation, Chief of the Army Staff General V K Singh has declared.
During 2011, the Army would "concentrate only" on the welfare of disabled personnel and a number of programmes would be launched to this end, he told reporters.

"We are working out programmes under which we will give attention to all our disabled. It is not that we don't do it now, but for one year we want to concentrate only on this particular aspect," Gen Singh said on the sidelines of a function to honour war widows and disabled personnel.

Asked about some complaints from veterans on pension and other related issues, the Army Chief said the Army has been working towards addressing the complaints and a database of ex-servicemen is being prepared at their regimental centres.

"Our endeavour is to prepare such a system that we can access the database of all the centres and after that see the shortcomings. And then send our personnel to these people and enquire about their problems and try to provide solutions for them."

The Army Chief and his wife Bharati Singh, who is the president of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), handed over specially modified scooters to 14 disabled soldiers and provided monetary help to war widows on the occasion. (IANS)
Army to observe 2011 as year for disabled soldiers