Defence diary

After touring Delhi and Chennai,the team reached Pune on June 24. The all-girls tour (Watan Ki Sair),comprising students of SSM Engineering College,Pattan,Baramulla,was planned by Kilo Force under the leadership of Lt Gen Ata Hasnain,Corps Commander. In Delhi,they interacted with President Pratibha Patil and Dy Chief of Army Staff,Lt General V S Tonk,and in Chennai with Governor Surjit Singh Barnala. They also took part in a host of other activities. During their three-day stay in Pune,they visited IT firm Cognizant Technology Solutions,Shaniwarwada,the Sinhagad Fort and the National Defence Academy (NDA),Khadakwasla .

NDA hosts Mozambique delegation

Brig Gen Luciano Amandio Soares Barbosa,Military Attache,High Commission of Mozambique,led a team to the National Defence Academy (NDA). The team was received by Lt Gen Jatinder Singh,Commandant,NDA. The team was briefed on various aspects of training the cadets and was taken around the campus for a tour to see training facilities and infrastructure. The visitors were explained the methodology of training. A lunch was hosted in their honour. India and Mozambique have,meanwhile,agreed to work together on maritime security to make the Indian Ocean a safe region for maritime trade.

‘Open more avenues for ex-servicemen’

The 20,000 ex-servicemen in the district including 9000 from the city have reason to cheer. Defence Minister A K Antony has called upon states to open more job avenues for them. At the 29th meeting of the Kendriya Sainik Board, Antony said,“I had written to chief ministers to provide more avenues of employment for ex-servicemen. You must devise ways and means to open up more fields of economic activity where the rich and practical experience of ex-servicemen can best be utilized. I urge all state governments to take steps to ensure that the provision for reservation in jobs for ex-servicemen provide tangible employment opportunities on the ground.” He called upon the public and private sector to provide maximum opportunities for ex-servicemen. “I strongly appeal to CMs to extend full cooperation by filling up vacant posts in Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards. On its part,the Centre has enhanced contribution to office expenditure and salaries at Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards,” he said. Reiterating the commitment to setting up 199 more polyclinics in the country,he called upon states to provide land at the earliest. The city stands to get two polyclinics.

Free training to enter Army,police force

In an example of ex-servicemen passing on skills to the younger generation,city based Trishakti Foundation,in collaboration with Karad-based Vijay Diwas and Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,has started training youngsters intending to join the Army and Police forces. The training,imparted free,will continue for years to come,said Colonel (retd) Sambhaji Patil,president of the Foundation. In the first camp at Karad,70 boys and 19 girls were trained in general awareness and confidence building. Physical fitness training through yoga and other exercises was given.

“What was striking was that three of the boys immediately attempted for the recruitment to the Army. The 45-day training is our gesture to motivate youngsters to join the Armed forces and police,” said Patil.

(Contributed by Pranav Kulkarni)

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