Lt Gen JJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) visited Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) at Secunderabad recently.

On arrival, the General Officer was received by Lt Gen RK Mehta, Commandant, MCEME. Lt Gen Mehta briefed the General Officer on training activities and development programmes at the college. The college imparts training to all ranks of the Corps of EME and other Arms including civilians from technician to post graduate levels.

Lt Gen JJ Singh visited faculty of electronics and interacted with the Gentlemen Cadets. While addressing the cadets, he boosted the morale and wished them all success during the training.
He also visited faculties of mechanical engineering, aero-nautical engineering and simulator development division.

Mrs Anupama Singh, President AWWA, ARTRAC visited the MCEME children school and interacted with the wives of all ranks of the MCEME.

An integrated rally of ex-servicemen and people of border areas was organised by 12 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in a forward area of Rajasthan. The rally generated tremendous enthusiasm, goodwill and participation among ex-servicemen and villagers. The rally was inaugurated by Maj Gen Susheel Gupta, GOC of an Infantry Division. A large number of ex-servicemen including Lt Gen Chimman Singh and war widows participated in the rally.

The war widows were felicitated and were presented gifts on the occasion. A cultural programme with participation of Army and children from local schools was organised to mark the occasion. A medical camp organised on the occasion provided medical facilities to the local public and ex-servicemen.

More than 2000 villagers and ex-servicemen were benefitted from the camp. An audio exhibition highlighting various aspects of welfare measures and recruitment policy also formed part of the rally.

Andhra Sub Area Signal Company celebrated the 92nd anniversary of Corps of Signals at Bolarum . On the occasion, a barakhana was organised in which senior serving and
retired signal officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks participated.

Lt Gen (Retd) SRR Aiyengar, who was the chief guest, greeted the signal officers, JCOs and other ranks on the occasion. Brig SP Sree Kumar, Commander, Andhra Sub Area, Brig Kashyap, Brig (Retd) AS Apte were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the chief guest was received by Maj SN Shastry, Officer Commanding, ASA Signal Company. The Corps of Signals is the most technologically advanced corps of the Indian Army. It serves the purpose of establishing, maintaining and monitoring the entire communication network which is vital for Indian Armed Forces.

A week-long eye camp for ex-servicemen and their families was organised at 167 Military Hospital. Brig VK Sharma, Commander, 21 Sub Area inaugurated the camp. Altogether 201 cases were taken up in OPD by Lt Col Gautam Datt,
Lt Col AK Sood, and other specialists. Fiftyone cataract operations were done and IOL implanted. One hundred presbyopic lenses were issued free of cost.

Brig (Mrs) Saroj Mukerjea, Commandant 167 MH distributed free medicines to patients. The vote of thanks was given by Lt Col Gautam Datt.

Army Postal Philatelic Exhibition (APPHILEX) 2003, an annual event of the Indian Army, was inaugurated by Mrs Neelue Tej Kaul, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) Mumbai at Army School, Colaba. Apart from the exhibition, a number of other programmes like philately workshop, quiz for children, stamp designing competition and displaying of CDs on philately were also held on this occasion.

Maj Gen TK Kaul, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra and Gujarat Area inaugurated the Nehru Philatelic Club on this occasion. A number of internationally renowned philatelists like Mr Dheeru Bhai Mehta, Mr CD Singh, Mr UV Shenoi, Mr HV Kapadia, Mr AP Shrivastava, Post Master General, Mumbai and Col KC Mishra, Director, Army Postal Service, Headquarters Southern Command were present on the occasion.

"The aim of this exhibition was to motivate young children for philatelic activities", said Capt KY Darule, Officer-in-charge Army Postal Unit, Mumbai.

A blood donation camp was organised by 2 Guards (1 Grenadiers) at Mamun Cantt. The camp, in addition to providing blood to the Armed Forces Blood Bank in New Delhi, marked the begining of the 225th Raising Day celebrations.

In the last two and a quarter centuries, 2 Guards had served with distinction in India and abroad. The battalion has to its credit 13 Battle Honours and a large number of decorations. In 1948, the battalion liberated the Gurez Valley from Pakistani raiders and won the Battle Honour Gurez.

At the camp, a large number of personnel and their families volunteered and about 250 blood units were collected. A large number of civil and military dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Army Postal Service (APS) Corps celebrated its 31st anniversary recently. The youngest corps of the Indian Army has Mail Milap as its motto.

Air Vice Marshal HV Hariharan, Senior Officer Incharge (Administration) at HQ Central Air Command graced the function organised by the Air Formation Postal Unit under the supervision of Capt K Chandra Mohan, Officer Commanding of the unit to celebrate the occasion at the Central Air Command in Bamrauli. Many senior officers from HQ Central Air Command, Air Force Station Bamrauli, Air Formation Signal Regiment, Station Workshop EME, Post Master General, Allahabad Region also joined the celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Vice Marshal Hariharan conveyed his best wishes to all APS personnel and their family members. He complimented them for prompt and speedy receipt and dispatch of mail and for financial services like postal life insurance and saving facilities. He also added that APS is keeping pace with the civil postal department. New services like speed post, express parcel post and greeting post have been introduced. A sports meet was also organised on the occasion for the families and children at the Air Formation Postal Unit.

Air Vice Marshal GP D’Souza, Air Officer Logistics and Maintenance, HQ Maintenance Command, Air Force presided over the valedictory function of civilian store-keepers course, held at Air Force Station, Manauri. A total of 24 store-keepers from various Equipment Depots, BRDs and Air Force Stations in Northern Region successfully completed the 3 month-long course after learning about various aspects of logistics management.

Earlier on his arrival at Manauri, the Air Vice Marshal was received by Air Cmde SK Sinha, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Manauri and was briefed on the various activities of the station. Gp Capt V Ramesh, CLO, presented the course report and a list of other achievements of the course. Air Vice Marshal D’Souza gave away the certificates. Mrs Jayanti Gupta was first, Mr Sanjay Kumar second and Mrs Lilly Chowdhary third in the merit list.

Air Vice Marshal, while addressing the participants of the course said that this was the first step in a long and demanding career which would lead them to display a high sense of commitment.

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu said that the valour and sagacity of Armed Forces have been periodically tested since India attained independence. "We are all proud of the matchless courage, determination and discipline of our Armed Forces that have defended the motherland from external threats and countered terrorism and internal disturbances within the country. I may specifically like to mention the supreme sacrifices made by our brave officers and men like Capt Veera Reddy, Col Raju and Maj Padmapani Acharya", he said while speaking at the Civil-Military Liaison Conference held at AOC Centre, Secunderabad.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has been taking care of the families of the brave soldiers hailing from the state. He thanked the defence forces for their immediate response and cooperation during natural calamaties. "In a vast democratic, federal and secular republic like ours, it is imperative that there should be a close coordination and cooperation between the civil and military authorities for the allround development of the country," he added. He informed that the state government has undertaken a member of welfare measures for the Armed Forces which include providing house sites for war widows and disabled ex-servicemen, reservation of government jobs and other facilities. As requested by the military authorities, the government would provide all assistance to protect military lands from encroachments.

Earlier, Maj Gen AS Jamwal, GOC, ATNKK & G Area, requested the state government to provide more facilities to ex-servicemen staying in the state.

The 81 Medium Regiment which has participated in all major wars after 1961celebrated its 42nd Raising Day.

Maj Gen Milan Naidu, General Officer Commanding, Red Eagle Division and Brig Harmesh Sethi, Commander, highlighted the achievements of the regiment and urged the present generation to honour the blood and sweat shed by their forefathers. They also appreciated the efforts put in by the regiment for looking after ex-servicemen and war widows.

A special sainik sammelan was also organised in which the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Col Ashish Uppal commended all ranks for their dedication and selfless service and gave away the Ikiasi Stamb award to personnel who distinguished themselves in various activities.

The celebrations started with the Guard of Honour and wreath-laying ceremony at the majestic War Memorial of the regiment. On this occasion, all the personnel of the regiment rededicated themselves to the defence of the nation and pledged to uphold the finest traditions and values of their predececssors.

Various other functions were also organised to mark the occasion, which included a painting competition for children, a variety entertainment programme and pagal gymkhana in which all families in the regiment took active part.

Thirty-three residents of the Delhi Cheshire Home (DCH) visited the Air Force Museum, Palam recently. The event weas presided over by Mrs Matilda Ghandhi, President, AFWWA (R) WAC and Mrs Neelam Singh, President, AFWWA (L) AF Station, Palam. The event was organised under the auspices of AFWWA, Palam.

On this occasion, clothes and food articles were donated. Col Bhalla (Retd), Manager, DCH, received the items on behalf of the Delhi Cheshire Home.

The Cheshire Homes are the institutions where the physically and mentally challenged individuals are looked after. The Cheshire Homes were founded by Gp Capt Leonard Cheshire of the Royal Air Force in 1948. It is an organisation spread over 40 countries with a total of 287 units. In India there are 26 Homes.

Air Vice Marshal HV Hariharan, Senior Officer-in-Charge Admi-nistration, Central Air Command,
inaugurated a week-long Administrative Group-Capsule Course at HQ, Central Air Command. Twenty-one Warrant Officers drawn from Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Agra, Gwalior, Bamrauli, Lucknow, Darbhanga, Bihta and Nainital Air Force Stations participated in the course. Selected officers drawn from HQ Central Air Command and Military Engineering Services conducted the course.

This course would work as the interface between the Administration and Military Engineering Services to facilitate and supervise various work projects and day-to-day maintenance being carried out at various Air Force stations. This is a thrust area which has been identified by the Chief of Air Staff during his visits to the Command HQ and Air Force stations.

Speaking on the occasion, Air Vice Marshal HV Hariharan said that the course would have a vital role to play in the monitoring of work services at a station and supervision of day-to-day maintenance activities. This group capsule would contribute substantially towards a more efficient and effective working environment at Air Force bases.

Illustrious and elite, 11 Corps of the Indian Army, widely known as Vajra Corps, celebrated its 53rd Raising Day somewhere in Western Sector.

The Vajra Corps proved its mettle right from its inception and won many laurels braving all odds. The corps was raised at Ambala under the leadership of Lt Gen Kulwant Singh. Later, the Vajra Corps was commanded by distinguished Generals like Lt Gen SP Thorat, Lt Gen Choudhary, Lt Gen VP Malik, Lt Gen HB Kala and Lt Gen Kamal Davar. The corps is presently commanded by Lt Gen K Nagaraj, who has held illustrious appointments both in command and staff. The Vajra Corps has been illustrious in all the battles it has fought since its raising. The battle honours include Asal Uttar, Dera Baba Nanak, Dograi and Barki. During operation Parakram, the Vajra Corps was mobilised in record time to defend the Punjab borders.

On the occasion of 53rd Raising Day, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at Vajra Corps War Memorial. Maj Gen RS Jamwal, Chief of Staff, Vajra Corps laid a wreath at War Memorial in memory of the gallant soldiers, who laid down their lives for sake of the nation. Other senior Army officers also paid homage to the martyrs.

Eighty students from Kashmir Valley came to Pune, thanks to Sarhad, a city based non-governmental organisation. These children visited the Institute of National Integration (INI), an Army institute, located in Pune. They were briefed by the Commandant, Brig Kanwar Lal and religious teachers of different faiths.

For these children, it was an enlightenment to know Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and Islam and the commonality of all religions. They realised how the power-brokers and self-appointed vanguards of religion in modern times have misued the name of God and exploited the simple people. They also realised that all the religions are thriving in India with harmony since ages and the nation has reverence towards all of them. They learnt how each individual can prosper by focusing on his efforts and energy for good education and job opportunities offered by the country.

The Institute of National Integration propagates harmonisation of faiths and commonalities of religions. It is a unique institute in the Indian Army. A visit to the institute kindled young hearts of the Kashmiri students who carried the message of good citizenship, values of life and national integration back home to the valley.

The crew of the Coast Guard ship Sangram pledged to donate their eyes after their demise.The pledge came after an awareness camp was conducted onboard the ship. During the camp, Dr Augustine Thomas, opthalmic surgeon, General Hospital, Ernakulam appraised the personnel of the importance of donating eyes and also cleared the myths associated with eye donation.

The ship’s crew in association with the mobile opthalmic unit of the General Hospital would conduct a series of eye camps in the coastal areas. The first camp will be held in Njarackal.

An attestation parade was held at the Veer Sthal Parade ground at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, Delhi Cantt. Altogether, 285 recruits of 90th Course were attested on the occasion. Medals for outstanding performance in training and sports were also awarded to the recruits.