Army is planning a mega rally for disabled soldiers here later this year as it unveiled its programme to reach out to over 12,000 such soldiers spread across six northern states, reiterating its resolve to provide all possible help to mitigate their sufferings.
The rally planned for 1500 disabled soldiers in November at Mamun headquarters would be the main event in the long list of programmes chalked out for the benefit of former soldiers who were rendered immobile while serving the nation, General Officer Commanding of nine corps Lt Gen Y V K Mohan said today.
The army commander was speaking at the inauguration of the curtain raiser programme 'forever in touch', which was attended by over 100 disabled soldiers.
Country's first paraplegic Major-General S K Razdan, Major D P Singh, a kargil war veteran and India's first blade runner and Param Vir Chakra awardee Subedar Major (honorary captain) Bana Singh attended the event as "grand ambassadors".
Captain Satender Sangwan, also a Kargil war veteran who after losing his right leg in the battlefield became an athlete in Paralympics and later became an international badminton player, was also present on the occasion.
When the proposal to celebrate the undying spirit of the disabled soldier was being finalised, two options came up
either to celebrate a four day programme after 'Diwali' festival or continue the efforts to keep in touch with disabled soldiers to mitigate their problems", Lt Gen. Mohan said.
It was decided to go for the second option and the 29 infantry division was assigned the task to reach out to the disabled soldiers, he added.
Stating this was just the beginning, the army commander said from here there would be programmes every month before the mega rally.
We understand the problems being faced by the ex-servicemen especially the disabled soldiers. Our effort will be to solve their problems, he said announcing setting up of new limb centres at various places in near future for them.
He said the soldiers and their families faced problems in reaching the premier institute of artificial limb centre at Pune.
A base hospital each in Guwahati, Delhi and other places is being set up to minimise the distance a disabled soldier (from the northern region) may have to travel for treatment, he said, adding his family also goes through the problems as a result
The army commander also suggested the disabled soldiers avail the facility of psychological counselling and said the focus of the programmes was also to make them aware of the new schemes being worked out for their benefit.
Major General (Retd) Razdan asked the retired soldiers to continue with their contribution in nation building and use their energy in steering the country out of internal troubles.
Lauding the army for the initiative, Bana singh said the army was working like a family and its concern for the disabled soldiers was enabling them to live an "honourable life.
Echoing his views, Major (Retd) D P Singh said the army is living with its motto of 'forever in touch' to ensure that the retired soldiers, particularly those who were left disabled while serving the nation, do not feel disenchanted.
Later, Lt Mohan flagged off a bicycle expedition that would cover 154 kilometers in the next four days, visiting the families of identified disabled soldiers.It comprises 13 members led by an officer.
The cyclists will visit the homes of disabled soldiers enroute to the Yol cantonment (Himachal Pradesh) and inform them about the upcoming rally and the measures being taken for their benefit, an army officer said.
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