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Journalism of Courage
Ex-Army personnel will no longer be referred to as “retired”, since the force feels that this introduces a sense of despondence among its former staff.
In new official instructions active from today, all former servicemen will be referred to as “veterans” in English and Gaurav Senani in Hindi.
The Army’s Adjutant General, Lt Gen A S Jamwal, is currently touring the country, scheduled to stop at Jammu, Jalandhar, Delhi, Bangalore and Dehradun, to get former personnel to interact more with the Army.
The announcements come as part of a series of steps and events taken by the Army to involve its former staff and civilians more in the workings of the force.
Army Chief Gen J J Singh’s wife Anupama Singh has organised a nine-day Fauji Mela in the Capital, from April 1 to 10, to put on display products and handicrafts made and sold by widows of Armymen who died on duty, an event that has been visited by over 25,000 people on the first two days.
“We want people of Delhi to know and feel what our soldiers and families feel and become part of our forces,” the Army Chief’s wife said. She plans to organise similar events across the country.
Also announced today was the Hearts First Programme, which includes the Assured Decent Last Rites Scheme, allowing all former personnel’s families to avail of Army facilities to conduct funeral rituals when they pass away. A wreath on behalf of the Army Chief will also be included as part of the programme by the formation commander concerned.
A new Veterans Hostel has come up in the Capital for former personnel, with new ones to be constructed in Pune and Bangalore soon. The martyrs War Memorial, which has been delayed for years, will shortly begin construction near India Gate with approval for a site almost finalised.
