Army Mela in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram to host Army Mela after a gap of 4 years
TNN | Oct 28, 2012, 04.45AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This year's Army Mela, scheduled to be held from November 6 to 8, is expected to see greater cooperation from the state government. The Army has sought infrastructure support and tax waivers from the state government for the smooth conduct of the event.
Mela, an event organized by the Army with an aim to educate, entertain and motivate youngsters to join military service, will be held at the Central Stadium, said a top Army official. The event is coming to the city after four years. "The Army Mela is a regular fixture in the event calendar of a few states and we are hoping to do the same in Kerala," he said.
The Pangode Army station command has sought the state government's assistance for conducting the event. "While the bulk of funding for the event is borne by the Army itself, we have requested that the state government pool in its resources to make it an unforgettable event," said the official. The Army is learnt to have asked the state government for an exemption on hiring charges of the Central Stadium and assistance for erecting stalls to display weapons, and also light and sound and seating arrangements for the promotional events.
"We had also requested that state government bear any expenditure on registration and insurance charges/taxes of mobility scooters being issued by Army to disabled ex-servicemen," said the official. If everything goes by the plan, the Army also plans to distribute a few scooters to disabled ex-servicemen during the event, he said.
The Army has identified Veer Naris from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, and is likely to invite around 100 women on the occasion. Veer Naris are widows and mothers of Army soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Army Wives Welfare Association will closely coordinate this event. The Army Mela will have an exhibition of arms and ammunition and also dare devil display by trained army men.
Thiruvananthapuram to host Army Mela after a gap of 4 years

ESM Welfare Thiruvananthapuram

State would favourably consider issues concerning ex-servicemen and service personnel:CM
Thiruvananthapuram 05-10-2012: Inaugurating the Civil-Military Liaison Conference, CM said that the State would favourably consider issues concerning ex-servicemen and service personnel.
He added that exemption in age criterion, weightage mark, and reservation for ex-servicemen would be considered in select posts apart from strengthening the functioning of ex-servicemen’s grievance redressal cells.
The Sainik Welfare Board should take up recruitment of kin of war heroes and those incapacitated during action to civilian posts in Defence establishments including the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) said the CM.
The State would ensure land for expansion activities of Army units stationed here, including handing over of 10 acres at Muttathara or Vithura for rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.
There are no hassles in handing over 70.40 acres near the Cochin international airport at Nedumbassery for the Coast Guard Air Enclave. The Army could prepare a consolidated list of land issues it faces, to be discussed in a separate meeting led by the Chief Secretary and the Collectors concerned, the CM said.
Civil Military liaison Conference

Deprived and Disabled ESM seek Justice

Ministry of Defence 03-September, 2012 15:30 IST
Deprived Section of Ex-Servicemen
Ex-servicemen with service less than 15 years are not entitled to pension as it is a mandatory requirement for a Personnel Below Officer Rank to render 15 years and for Commissioned Officers 20 years qualifying service to earn pension. Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for pension in the Government.
The Short Service Commissioned Officers who are not pensioners are eligible for certain schemes of DGR like Training, Security Agencies and other self-employment schemes. Ex-Defence personnel with more than 5 years of service are entitled to CSD canteen facilities available in units / establishment apart from being employed as security guards. Some grants out of Raksha Mantri Discretionary Funds is also provided to non-pensioners upto the rank of Havaldar.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr MM PallamRajuin a written reply to Shri Gopal Singh Shekhawatin Lok Sabha today. HS/HH/NN (Release ID :87211) Deprived Section of Ex-Servicemen
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Relief for ex-servicemen

‘Ex-servicemen opting for higher grades should discard benefits’
By Express News Service - KOCHI 14th September 2012 10:47 AM
The Kerala High Court on Thursday held that the ex-service men preferring for higher grades after opting for civil pension should discard the retirement benefits of military pension.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffique passed the order while considering an appeal filed by the state government challenging a Single Bench order which permitted the pensioners not to remit the pension benefits.
The court made it clear that to avail of higher grade in the service, the Kerala Service Rules should be followed. “The statutory provision in question is Rule 8(c) of Part III of the Kerala Service Rules which makes it clear that ex-servicemen re-employed in civil services shall be allowed to count their military service, which is non-pensionable or pensionable under the Military Rules, but which is terminated before a pension has been earned in respect of it. War/military service is a pensionable service and pension has been earned by the incumbent in relation to such service, the same shall not be reckoned for the purpose of civil pension,” the court said.
The court also made it clear that for considering the reckoning military services along for higher grade in the state service all the pension benefits should be remitted.>br> ‘Ex-servicemen opting for higher grades should discard benefits’

Pension for ailing ex-serviceman
By Express News Service - KOCHI 17th September 2012 12:03 PM
The Armed Forces Tribunal Kochi bench has directed the Central government to disburse the disability pension to George Varghese of Kollam who sustained a disability during the military service within three months.
The bench comprising judicial member Justice Shrikant Tripathi and administrative member Lt General Thomas Mathew passed the order while considering a petition filed by George Varghese of Kollam seeking pension on the ground that the disability occurred due to military service.
Counsel for the petitioner C R Ramesh submitted that Varghese suffered bronchial asthma during the course of service and the medical board opined that disability suffered by the petitioner was attributable to military service.
The percentage of disability was 30 per cent.
The Central Government denied pension on the ground that he had himself sought for the discharge from the army on compassionate grounds.
The bench asked the state to grant the pension benefits from October 2008.
Pension for ailing ex-serviceman

Onam Greetings 2012

President, VP greet nation on Onam
Press Trust of India / New Delhi August 28, 2012, 14:35
The President and Vice President today greeted the nation on the eve of Onam, which marks the beginning of the harvest season.
President Pranab Mukherjee in his message said, "On the joyous occasion of Onam, I offer my warm felicitations and heartiest greetings to all my brothers and sisters belonging to Kerala."
He said the festival brings out the rich cultural heritage of Kerala in its best form and spirit.
"May this harvest festival instill in us the spirit of national integration and inspire us to work for further development of our country," Mukherjee said.
Vice President M Hamid Ansari said Onam plays an important role in uniting people.
He wished that the festival "may usher in peace, prosperity and happiness in the society and contribute in the nation's progress".
President, VP greet nation on Onam
RMS team wishes all readers a Happy Onam. May it bring Prosperity and Peace

Sainik Centre shot in the arm for ex-servicemen

Shalet Jimmy Express News: 03 Feb 2012 08:34:38 AM IST
KOCHI: Ernakulam is all set to get its first ‘Sainik Centre’ for the ex-servicemen. Sprawled over an area of around 2,000 sq ft, the new centre is located at Kizhakkambalam, Kakkanad. The centre is equipped with a conference hall which will be used for organising various training programmes for the retired army personnel. This is the fifth centre in the state, the others being in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Alappuzha.

The project worth Rs 95 lakh will be inaugurated in March, said K K Govindan Nair, Director, Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. He said that the conference hall would be opened to the public.

Sainik centres are constructed to give accommodation facilities to ex- servicemen who go to different parts of the state for various purposes. “Such centres will be of great relief to ex-servicemen, and the accommodation provided here will be at a subsidised rate,” District Sainik Welfare officer P J Jacob said.

He said that the meagre pension of the ex-servicemen did not help them find appropriate lodging. “As the pension they get is not attractive, it would always cost the ex-servicemen dear, when it comes to their stay at a hotel or a lodge when they go to other districts. Hence this is an attempt by the government to mitigate the trouble of ex-servicemen,” he said. The conference hall which will be built at the centre is aimed at providing various training and other awareness programmes. “The conference hall is mainly intended for training programmes. The department offers various guidance programmes for them to make them think about a second career,” Jacob said. The move to launch the project soon came as a relief to the officials of the Ernakulam District Zilla Sainik Welfare Centre, Kakkanad, as the project has been moving at a snail’s pace for the past three years. The work was entrusted with the Public Works Department and the project was financed both by the Central and the State Governments, he said.
Sainik Centre shot in the arm for ex-servicemen

Hospital for ex-servicemen to come up at Manarcad

Hospital for ex-servicemen to come up at Manarcad
Staff Reporter The Hindu
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has reiterated his government's commitment to the cause of ex-servicemen and their dependents.
Speaking at the ex-servicemen meet organised by the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department here on Sunday, the Chief Minister said his government would take the issues concerning war widows, dependents of servicemen who laid their lives in the service of the nation, physically challenged ex-servicemen and their dependents, in all its seriousness.
Assistance for widows
Already, the government has doubled the financial assistance to WWII veterans from Rs.500 to Rs.1,000. A new scheme of providing monthly assistance of Rs.500 to their widows has been initiated.
The Chief Minister announced that a rest house-cum-hospital complex for ex-servicemen and their dependents would be constructed at Manarcad. The government has identified 50 cents of land for the purpose and has earmarked Rs.2.5 crore for the project, he said.
The work on the rest house at Ernakulam is nearing completion and that at Malappuram would commence immediately, he said.
Aid doubled
The financial assistance to the dependents of jawans who lay their lives in war or war-like situations, has been doubled to Rs.10 lakh.
The income ceiling for availing of financial assistance has been increased from Rs.75,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh, he said.
The government is seriously thinking of introducing a new scheme which would extend financial support to those who have received bravery awards, the Chief Minister said.
The government has also decided to extend financial assistance to ex-servicemen and their dependents who undergo dialysis. Total financial assistance of Rs.10,000 at the rate of Rs.1,000 per dialysis will be provided to the eligible.
The government also provides a monthly financial assistance of Rs.200 to poor, aged ex-servicemen who are staying at old age homes.
Speaking on the occasion Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister for Revenue, said the interests of those who have served in the services and their dependents would be protected by the State.
Brig (Rtd) MJ Prakadan, District Panchayat President Radha V Nair and others spoke.
Hospital for ex-servicemen to come up at Manarcad

PM commissions Ezhimala Naval Academy

Photo Credit
Ezhimala (PTI): Ezhimala Naval Academy, a project to conduct a host of training courses including research, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 8, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said on Friday.

"After deciding to set up a full-fledged naval academy at this site, we have come to a stage wherein we are ready to commence training at the academy and the Prime Minister will dedicate the academy to the nation on January 8," he told a press conference here.

The over Rs 720 crore project, billed as Asia's largest is capable of accommodating 750 personnel and about 500 support staff to assist the day-to-day activities of academy.

Flanked by the Arabian Sea, picturesque hills and inland waters, the Academy spread over a 2,452 acres, will be the only centre in India imparting four-year B Tech courses in Electronics and Communications, and Mechanical Engineering for all the newly inducted trainee officers.

The syllabi and the curricula have been drafted keeping in mind the current technical advancements and the skill tests that will be required in handling the future acquisition of the Indian Navy, he said.

"The academy would give a lot more thrust on intellectual works and will have a unique laboratory and plans to allow others to do research works here," Admiral Mehta said.

The ongoing works of the project are scheduled to be completed by April end and the full-fledged courses will start in June next, he said.

The entire training sessions, currently being held at Goa's 'INS Mandovi', would be subsequently shifted to the 'INS Zamorin' at Ezhimala, which is located in Kerala's Kannur district.
PM to commission Ezhimala Naval Academy on Jan 8
PM inaugural address:
Prime Minister Inaugurates Indian Naval Academy