First ever Assam Rifles Ex-servicemen Rally for entire Manipur

12th January 2016

DG, Assam Rifles interacting with 106-year veteran from INA : at Mantripukhri on 12th January 2016

Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rally was conducted by IGAR (South) at Mantripukhri under the aegis of DGAR on 12 January 2016. A rally at such a scale was organised for the first time in the history of Assam Rifles in the state of Manipur.

The mega event was presided over by Honourable Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri O Ibobi Singh in the presence of Director General of Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General HJS Sachdev, AVSM, SM. The rally saw a mass participation of over 750 AR ESM including a few World War II Veterans, Veer naris, Widows and Children from all the districts of Manipur.

The rally commenced with a welcome song by the children of Carmel Jyoti Children’s Home, an orphan institution that has been adopted by IGAR(S). Lieutenant General HJS Sachdev AVSM, SM, Director General Assam Rifles addressed the rally and said that welfare of veterans and veer naris is a top priority area for Assam Rifles.

He said that this rally was organised with an aim of reaching out to the AR ESM fraternity, renewing bonds between serving and retired personnel, felicitating deserving veterans and veer naris and addressing grievances pertaining to pension and other benefits.

Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri O Ibobi Singh there after addressed the rally. The CM said that the Assam Rifles has acquitted itself well in peace and war and has been responsible for ushering in normalcy in many parts of the North East. Manipur too, has been subjected to violent insurgency for decades, costing thousands of lives and adversely impacting peace and development. Assam Rifles has contributed in a large measure in reducing the violence levels and enabling the civil administration to function.

Assam Rifles also stood by the people in times of natural disaster. The CM lauded the veterans present for their dedication to the Nation and said that the Nation will never forget them. He said that the State Govt will continue to provide different schemes for Assam Rifles veterans and widows.

The CM and DGAR released a compendium which covers various schemes and benefits available to AR ESM and their dependents. The CM and the DGAR then felicitated World War II veterans and veer naris giving them small tokens of appreciation. An open house and pension adalat was held to address certain issues of common interest to all ESM.

The veterans and veer naris were then guided to various stalls and other facilities established at the venue for their benefit. These included stalls for addressing individual pension grievances, Assam Rifles Ex-servicemen Association (ARESA) recruitment, medical check-up, treatment and medication.

There were stalls for getting Aadhar cards and opening bank accounts. The State Govt had also established stalls by Horticulture, Agriculture, Fisheries, Veterinary and Urban Housing departments for informative value.

There were military and ethnic stalls showcasing the history, tradition and culture of Assam Rifles. Performances by cultural troupes showcased the rich cultural heritage of Manipur and a movie on Assam Rifles was screened to conclude the event.

Smt Vandana Sachdev, President Assam Rifles Wives Welfare Association (ARWWA), and other ladies of ARWWA also graced the occasion and interacted with the veer naris, widows and dependants of AR ESM.

The rally was a grand success and brought together the serving and the retired fraternity of Assam Rifles like never before. Each veteran and veer nari present here went away from the rally benefitted and assured that the DGAR and the Manipur Govt care for them genuinely.