Department Of Ex-Servicemen Welfare: Vision and Mission

Vision, Mission, Objectives and Functions
Results-Framework Document (RFD) for Department Of Ex-Servicemen Welfare-(2012-2013)
To ensure the well being of the Retired Armed forces personnel/their dependants and to sensitize the general public about their potential and the positive role played by Ex-servicemen in the nation building.
Mission
Formulation of polices for the welfare of Ex-service men / dependents. Timely addressal of pension grievances as per entitlement, ensuring quality health care, resettlement and rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen and promoting activities that depict the positive role played by Ex-servicemen in society.
Objective
1 Improvement in procedures relted to delivery of medical benefits to ESM
2 Strengthening mechanisms/systems for ESM welfare
3 Facilitate prompt grievance redressal
4 To conduct media campaign to highlight the role of ESM in society
5 Resettlement & rehabilitation of Ex Servicemen
6 Improved data of Ex Servicemen/ dependants
Department Of Ex-Servicemen Welfare(2012-2013)

Remembrance Day as seen by grand daughter of a Veteran

Remembrance Day
Dear Brig Kamboj,
I am herewith forwarding a mail from my daughter. My grand-daughter and her classmates in Class 3 in Canada have sent me a card and a candy on Remembrance Day (Remembering the veterans). The class teacher wanted a message from me! A very touching gesture. And does anybody ever think of veterans here?
With warm regards,
Col SV Ramachandran (Veteran)

Hi kaka
sending snaps. hope u get them. also email miss Assunta
Will try and take a printout of your email and maybe something for the kids in the afternoon
very nice of them
love
Priya
Slideshow of Photos drawn by Priya

Dear Col Ramachandran
Deeply appreciate the sentiments of children and their teacher.
With regards to you and Mrs Ramachandran.
Chander Kamboj
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Flag Day: Is it a noble and honourable act to beg?

Armed Forces Flag Day
The Armed Forces Flag Day or the Flag Day of India is a special day dedicated towards collection of funds from people of India, for the welfare of the armed forces personnel in India. It is observed on December 7, every year in India, from 1949. Funds are collected from the general public for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel. Over the years, it has become a tradition to commemorate this day as an honour to the brave soldiers, airmen and sailors of India.

History
Immediately after India achieved independence, a need arose for the government to help and manage the welfare of the defence personnel of Independent India. On August 28, 1949, a committee set up under the defence minister decided to observe a Flag Day on December 7, every year. The notion behind observing Flag Day was to distribute token flags and car flags and in return collect donations from the general public. The Flag Day gains more significance as it considers that it is the responsibility of the civilian population of India to take care of the families and dependents of the armed forces personnel who fight for the country. Jawaharlal Nehru, who was then Prime Minister of India, describing this exemplary practice said on December 7, 1954:
A few weeks ago, I visited Indo-China and saw our officers and men attached to the International Commission there. It gave me a thrill to see their smart bearing and the good work they were doing in that distant land. What pleased me still more was their general popularity with the people there. By their efficiency as well as their friendliness, they enhanced the reputation of India. Among them were people from all parts of India. They observed no provincial or other differences amongst themselves. I am sure my countrymen will be pleased to learn of them and would like to indicate their appreciation of these young men who serve our country both here and elsewhere so well. A way to indicate that appreciation is to contribute to the Flag Day Fund.

Significance and Purpose
The Flag day is mainly observed to serve three basic purposes:

Rehabilitation of battle casualties

Welfare of serving personnel and their families

Resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their families.
The Armed Forces Flag Day commemoration and the collection of funds through distribution of flags has been an honoured tradition and is organised every with much pride nationally. It stands as a representation for the community to express its gratitude and appreciation to the brave soldier of India. It is a day to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs, as well as the service of both veterans and the serving armed forces personnel.

On the Flag Day all three formations of the armed forces, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, through their units arrange a variety of shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes to showcase the heroic efforts of their personnel to the general public while ensuring national security. From schools, to colleges, from corporate community to general public, token flags and car flags in red, deep blue and light blue colours representing the three Services are distributed in return for donations.

Flag Day Fund
The original Flag Day Fund was set up in 1949, by the Defence Minister's Committee. However, in 1993, the Defence Ministry of India, consolidated related welfare funds into a single Armed Forces Flag Day fund. Those funds include:

Amalgamated Special Fund for War Bereaved, War Disabled and other ex-Servicemen /Serving Personnel

Flag Day Fund

St Dunstan's (India) and Kendriya Sainik Board Fund

Indian Gorkha Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Fund.

Fund Collection
The fund collection is managed throughout the country by the by local arms of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), which is part of the Ministry of Defence. The fund collection is organised both by official and non-official means through voluntary organisations.

The Fund is operated by a Managing Committee presided over by the Defence Minister of India at the Centre and by the executive heads of the governments in the States and Union Territories. When the Armed Forces Flag Day programme was introduced, the fund allocation was managed in such a way that the Central KSB headquarters is given only a very small share of the Flag Day Fund collections made by each state. The allotted funds for the KSB is only half a paisa per individual.
Armed Forces Flag Day

Is it a noble act to beg?
This is a demeaning act. Literally the Armed Forces are made beggars with a begging bowl. Collection of funds should cease. More avenues for honouring our brave soldiers like National War Memorials should be explored. Presently the Flag Day Collections are grossly misutilised by KSB's and higher echelons. This is certainly no way of honouring our brave Jawans.

"Bursting with pride" by Michelle Obama

Exclusively for USA WEEKEND, America's new first lady shares what she believes her husband's inauguration means for her family -- and her country.

I particularly cherished my visits with military families all across the country. I met so many strong and inspiring military spouses eager to share their stories, their dreams for the future and the unique challenges they face because of their families' selfless service to our country.

And if there's one thing I learned, it's that when our servicemen and women go to war, their families go with them. I saw how they take care of each other, heard how they fill in whenever the system fails and discovered that the trials they faced always were matched by the hope they shared that better days are still ahead.

The simple 35-word oath my husband will take and the peaceful transfer of power it completes makes it easy to forget that the great fortune of our citizenship isn't free at all. It's a responsibility inherited only because generations of Americans have fought and bled and died for it.

So as I watch Barack take that oath, I'll be thinking especially about those members of our American family who stand guard across the world and the loved ones who await their safe return. Because even as we mark this moment in American history, there still will be empty seats at the dinner table; there still will be spouses struggling to juggle roles and responsibilities; there still will be children who mark the passing of a birthday without Mommy and toddlers who know their father only by a grainy video stream from a far-flung corner of the globe.

My husband and I are deeply grateful for the sacrifices that these families make to protect all American families. And we join them -- today and every day -- in praying for their loved ones and their safety. They don't ask a lot in return, just a Washington that understands the challenges they face as part of their extraordinary commitment to our country.

My husband understands that commitment, and he will ensure America lives up to its end. As military families join us on Tuesday, in person and in spirit, I want each and every one of them to know that for as long as I have the tremendous honor of being your first lady, your voices will be heard, you will have an advocate in the White House, and the American promise you preserve always will extend to you, too.

All of us can learn a fundamental lesson from our military families: You don't need to wear a uniform to serve your country. We all have something to contribute to the life of this nation.

On Tuesday night, my husband and I will tuck in our daughters like we always do. Their bedrooms will be different, their home unfamiliar. But they will drift off to sleep protected by that same sacrifice that has kept all of our families safe and safeguarded our freedom for generations -- the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and their families. For that, we could not be more grateful -- or more proud.
Read More: "Bursting with pride by Michelle Obama

Veterans Day New York

Dear All,
Attached above are some pictures from the Veteran's Day Parade held in New York City on Nov 11th 2008. About 20,000 Serving and Veterans took part. The Parade ended up at the Intrepid (War Ship) where it was addressed by the President, George Bush and Hilary Clinton.

regards,
Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd)
Slideshow of 22 Photographs: Veteran's Day New York
We thank Gen Harwant Singh for the excellent Photographs. Veterans truly held in esteem.