CHENNAI, MAY 19
As part of the activities concerning Operation Naman, earnest endeavours have been made by Dakshin Bharat (DB) Area of Indian Army, to reach out to the elderly veterans of 70 years and above, providing them moral support and resolving their concerns.
As part of this programme, a number of activities have been organised in the area of responsibility in the DB Area which is headquartered in Chennai. Veterans of five states under Dakshin Bharat Area viz., Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were contacted, says a release from Defence PRO.
The activities under “OP NAMAN” include assistance in addressing health issues, delivering essential supplies and groceries to needy veterans, providing assistance for commutation, extending canteen facility on priority or delivering canteen stores to their doorstep, blood donation, issue of advisories, making calls to veterans enquiring their well-being etc.
A Helpline Number and a dedicated E Mail ID have been created for veterans to register their grievances. This has been communicated to maximum veterans through WhatsApp groups and vide Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) functioning at the State level and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) at district levels. All war widows and a number of Ex-Service Men (ESM) and dependents have been contacted.
In Chennai area alone a total of 18 advisories related to entitlements of ESM, War Widows and dependents have been disseminated vide WhatsApp and RSB.
A Special Cell has been established at Madras Regimental Centre (MRC), Wellington for this purpose. The Cell has contacted number of ESMs and Veer Naris and enquired their well-being. Groceries and essential medicines are being provided to the elderly veterans on need basis or on receipt of call on helpline number.
Apart from advisories and comforting calls to aged veterans, some special activities are being carried out by Karnataka & Kerala Sub Area (KKSA). A Veer Nari who has uterus cancer (Stage: 4), requires regular blood and platelets. She got admitted in a delicate condition during lockdown. She has been given continuous support by the Headquarters. Special arrangements have been made to provide blood and platelets supply. 23 service personnel have been sent for blood transfusion. Also a case has been taken up for one-time financial grant to tide away the present financial difficulties.
Also, elderly veterans especially above the age of 80 yrs were delivered a cake along with a card on behalf of General Officer Commanding Dakshin Bharat Area. The efforts of DB Area have been applauded by the veteran community and have intimated that the efforts by DB Area has indeed raised their morale.
