January 14 marks the Indian Armed Forces Veterans Day. On this day in 1953, General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army had formally retired from service and became a veteran. Thus, this day is aptly commemorated from the year 2016 onwards under Modi 1.0 government in the memory of Field Marshal Cariappa as the Veterans Day of the Armed Forces. The Indian Armed Forces also have their respective veteran cells in the form of Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV), DNV for Navy and DAV for Air Force, which play an active role towards veterans’ welfare. On this day, a grateful nation pays tribute to the sterling contribution of its personnel though no longer in uniform but yet an important component in nation building.
The importance and magnitude of the veteran’s community in India has to be put in perspective. Indian veteran community numbers more than 32 lacs, arguably the largest organised community any where in the world. Such a vast community also includes widows and wives of Fallen Heroes, called Veer Naris. Such is the tradition in the armed forces that the veteran community is looked after from womb to tomb. The community draws immense respect from the general public and the government at the centre and in the states. The armed forces take special pride in looking after the welfare of the veterans and Veer Naris.
The central government has a formal organisation in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to look after the welfare and rehabilitation of the veterans who officially are called Ex-Servicemen (ESM). Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) is part of the MoD and it is headed by a secretary rank level officer of the IAS. The importance government attaches to this significant vertical can be gauged by the fact that a handpicked senior IAS officer, Dr. Niten Chandra is the present Secretary (ESW). The organisation is all encompassing and DESW includes the offices of pension, welfare, legal and policy verticals. In addition, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Resettlement of ESM (DGR) and Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) are attached offices of DESW and are headed by senior serving officers of the Armed Forces. In short, a 360-degree view of veteran welfare is taken care of by the DESW.
DESW is very proactive in ensuring genuine and timely welfare of the veteran community. I had multiple opportunities to interact with DESW actively while posted as Major General in the Adjutant General’s Branch of the Army Headquarters in the year 2020. Even though COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the normal lives, DESW and Army Headquarters reached out to the veterans’ community in the virtual mode and later physically when situation permitted. DESW exhibited lot of positivity and maturity when it passed orders to accept documents of retiring personnel online. I take pride in the fact that the pension of Ex-Servicemen continued uninterrupted even during the lock down period. This is just one example of the seriousness and sensitivity attached by the Modi government to veterans’ welfare.
The biggest welfare of the ESM was done by Prime Minister Modi in the year 2015 by implementing One Rank One Pension (OROP) as promised by him prior to the General Elections in the year 2014. OROP addressed a major anomaly in the pension structure by giving uniform pension to all retired personnel in the same rank with the same length of service. This scheme particularly helped a huge ESM community who had retired with very low pension in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Even though the financial implication of the revised OROP is high, Modi 3.0 government has sanctioned around 23 per cent of the Defence Budget (Rs. 1,41,205 crores) in the financial year 2024-25 for Defence Pensions. No other organisation of the government gets this type of financial outlay.
Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister has paid special attention to veterans’ welfare. During Modi 2.0 government, the RM addressed the anomalies in the OROP and issued the revised scale of pensions. With his proactive intervention, the revised tables of OROP have been recently issued during Modi 3.0 government. With his compassionate approach, he makes it a point to reach out to the veteran’s community during his visits to various parts of the country. He follows up the feedback received from the veterans and makes it a point to implement the genuine suggestions.
The most pathbreaking transformation regarding veteran welfare by Rajnath Singh has been their empowerment for a second career after retirement. He has strongly advocated the skill development of the ESM to channelise their expertise in the respective areas. ESM can contribute so much towards the nation building with their niche capabilities while in uniform and when out of uniform. No wonder that the 2025 Year of Defence Reforms articulated by Rajnath Singh mentions “Ensure the welfare of veterans while leveraging their expertise.”
This year marks 9th Veterans Day and Rajnath Singh accompanied by the CDS will attend the main event at Jammu. He will felicitate the veterans and lead the country in paying respect to them and their families. I am told that the event is being held in nine different locations across the country to ensure mass participation. Respective Service Chiefs are attending the event at different locations. In addition, the event is being marked in each state down to the district level to reach out and interact with the veterans. It is noteworthy that the state governments also look after veteran welfare under the supervision of the respective Governors. I had meaningful interaction with governors of five states during my stint as General Officer Commanding Madhya Bharat Area.
Veterans Day gives a special opportunity to the Indians to acknowledge the sacrifice and contribution of the retired community for their selfless service. The veteran community is a huge disciplined body of proud ESM who should pledge to rededicate themselves on this day to the cause of the grateful nation. The 9th Veterans Day under the leadership of the Rajnath Singh should provide a big impetus towards nation building in pursuit of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Jai Bharat!
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