PRESENTATION CEREMONY : SPECIALLY MODIFIED SCOOTERS TO DISABLED SOLDIERS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP TO WIDOWS AND THEIR WARDS AT DR DS KOTHARI AUDITORIUM , DRDO BHAVAN, NEW DELHI

Rehabilitation and welfare of Disabled Soldiers, Veer Naris and Veterans is the core focus of the Army to ensure that they lead a life of dignity. Today, in recognition of their contribution for the Nation’s pride, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM. SM. VSM, ADC presented 25 Specialized Scooters to Army’s disabled soldiers and financial assistance/education scholarship cheques to 15 Veer Naris and their wards. Some Corporate houses have extended their willing support towards this social responsibility.

The Army lays great emphasis on the welfare and rehabilitation of its soldiers and their families, and has instituted many schemes for the same.So far, Rs One lakh each has been paid by the Army to 12,084 NOKs of martyrs who laid down their lives between 15 Aug 1947 to 30 Apr 1999 as a one time grant since not much of ex-gratia was given to this category earlier. An assistance of Rs One Lakh each has also been given to all those war disabled soldiers who have been invalided out from the service due to their disability sustained in various operations since 15 Aug 1947. Under this scheme, Rs 43.85 crores has been distributed to 4,385 beneficiaries till date.

Financial assistance is also being provided to serving soldiers who sustained disability while in service and Rs 2.60 crores has been distributed to 1,510 disabled soldiers since 01 May 1999 and approximately 1,740 soldiers who sustained disability in the service have been provided mobility equipment grant since 2001. An assistance of Rs 30,000/- to meet immediate requirement is also provided to NOKs of all soldiers who die in harness and Rs 35.85 crores has been disbursed under this scheme.

Educational Scholarship are being given to children of martyrs and soldiers who die in harness, War disabled soldiers and serving soldiers. Last year alone, 2,495 children were awarded educational scholarships. In addition, assistance is also extended for medical treatment, daughter’s marriage, agro-based, veterans, self employment, remarriage of widows, improvement of War Widow’s Children Hostel, purchase of mobility equipment, etc. Also, War Widow’s Children Hostels are being modernized and equipped with computer labs to provide a better environment for the development of the wards of our martyrs, and Rs 1,023 crores has been provided to 35 such Hostels since 2001.

Many senior dignitaries of the Army and the Corporate Sector were present for the Ceremony.