Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes visited Leimakhong Garrison near Imphal. The Minister was on a two-day visit to Manipur. On his arrival, he was received by Lt Gen VK Jetly, GOC, 3 Corps and Maj Gen Iqbal Singh, GOC, 57 Mountain Division.

Mr George Fernandes addressed the troops deployed at Leimakhong and joined them for tea and snacks. Later, he was briefed by Maj Gen Iqbal Singh about the prevalent situation in Manipur. He, thereafter, left for Imphal and visited Kangla Fort where
he addressed the troops of Assam Rifles.

Later, Mr Fernandes called on the Governor of Manipur, Mr Ved Marwah. The Minister discussed the law and order situation in the state with the Governor. The Defence Minister also visited Raj Kumar Chandrajit Sana (RKCS) Chitralaya in Imphal. He appreciated the historical paintings which depicted the rich culture and history of Manipur. Later, the Minister departed for Kumbhi Gram from Tulihal Airport, Imphal.

The 8th re-union and 45th conference of Army Medical Corps were organised at AMC Centre and School in Lucknow Cantonment. A para-drop demonstration and sky-diving display marked the commencement of the galaxy of programmes organised on the occasion. Forty participants dropped from AN-12 aircraft in eight sorties demonstrated a perfect landing. Amongst them was the 76 year-old Brig M Kumar (Retd).

The 45th AMC conference which focused on various issues relating to the modernisation and upgradation was inaugurated by Lt Gen D S Chauhan, Central Army Commander. He expressed happiness over various transformations that the AMC had undergone in the past 237 years to keep pace with technological advancements. Lt Gen Harcharan Singh, DGMS (Army), in his welcome address, informed that after Kargil, modernisation of AMC has been undertaken in a big way. Lt Gen S P Malhotra, Commandant AMC Centre and School delivered a vote of thanks. Lt Gen S S Grewal, Adjutant General, Army HQ also participated in the conference.

A medical exhibition held on the occasion displayed modernisation of combat medical support to Services. A mobile operation theatre and wards complied in four Army vehicles were the highlights.

A medical conference which shed light on DGAFMS matters, a dental conference, visit to AMC museum, a variety entertainment programme and banquet formed part of the celebrations. A light and sound programme. ‘‘Son-et-lumiere’’ depicting the history of the AMC was the highlight of the concluding programmes.

A newly constructed Candidates Complex was inaugurated at the Services Selection Centre, New Cantonment in Allahabad by Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Commandant of the Centre. This newly constructed complex houses candidates lines, residential area for candidates who come to the centre for interview, candidates mess and a cafeteria aptly named "Olive Greens". A large number of officers, JCOs, jawans and civilians were present on this occasion alongwith their families.

Speaking on the occassion, Maj Gen Satbir Singh congratulated the personnel of Military Engineering Service in general and the Garrison Engineer Mr RK Meena in particular for ensuring quality in the construction of complex which is totally modern in concept and design. Col A S Chand, Commander, Works Engineer Loutlined the various features of the Candidates Complex.

Lt Gen Prakash Suri, DGBR, visited Eastern Base Workshop (EBW). He inspected various facilities in the base workshop for overhaul of vehicles and equipment being used by BRO for road construction in the north-eastern region.

While commending the work done by EBW, Lt Gen Suri also said that cost effectiveness, better quality and reliability should be the parameters for the equipment overhauled by the base workshop. He also stressed the need of making EBW as a technology centre to provide training and other technical services in the north-eastern sector.

Lt Gen Suri also saw a demo of Mobile Road Maintenance System developed by EBW for rapid road maintenance. This state-of-the-art machine is an eco-friendly, and electrically operated system.

The machine is useful for all types of terrain and climate conditions because of its cold mixing and rapid setting concept. It not only improves road condition with its better repair technology but also saves valuable foreign exchange being spent on procurement of foreign machines which are costly, besides being unsuitable to Indian conditions.

Mr Hans Raj, Chief Engineer and Commandant EBW, informed that the EBW during the last financial year had achieved the capacity utilisation of 122% which is the highest in the history of base workshop. This increased productivity has resulted in the saving of Rs 2.50 crore.
Lt Gen Suri appreciated the achievement of EBW and congratulated all ranks for their excellent performance.

Maj Gen P Mohandas, MGEME, HQ Eastern Command has been appointed as Colonel Commandant of the Corps of EME. Maj Gen P Mohandas is from the 24th course of the National Defence Academy where he was awarded the Commandant’s Gold Medal.

Beginning his career in February 1964, the General Officer has held various regimental and command assignments. He has been DDEME of a corps in the West and in the East and has been posted to MCEME as Instructor CI ‘B’, Head of the Department and as DC & CI.

Maj Gen Mohandas has held staff appointments at both Command and Army HQ. He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1997 while serving as DD EME, 3 Corps where he raised and commanded the Army Development Group. He later conceived and implemented the Image Projection Campaign for the Indian Army during his tenure as DDG Rtg (Offrs). The General Officer has authored the history of the Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers entitled "Fifty Eventful Years - The Story of Engineering Support to the Army".

The first kerosene kerbside pump of the Indian Oil Corporation in Kerala was opened at Southern Air Command Headquarters, Vayuvihar in Pulayanarkotta. Air Marshal Manjit S Sekhon, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command inaugurated the pump. The Air Marshal complimented IOC’s services in meeting the requirements of defence forces, especially in the border areas. He also urged to start an LPG outlet in the complex. Wg Cdr A S Yadav, Commanding Officer, Southern Air Command (Unit) also addressed.

Air Cmde Kuruvilla, Air Cmde Suresh Manohar Pendharkar and other senior officers attended the inaugural function. Mr Majumdar, Senior Divisional Manager, Mr T Varaprasad, Manager, Consumer service,
Mr Suresh, Development Manager were also present.

The pump, setup with an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh, was constructed by IOC free of cost for the Southern Air Command in a record time of two months. It has a storage capacity of fifteen thousand litres. The new outlet will ensure better and faster service to more than two thousand cardholders in the Southern Air Command complex.

The Sudarshan Chakra Division organised an ex-servicemen rally at Lalgarh Jattan in Banganagar district of Rajasthan. The rally was inaugurated by Maj Gen RN Suryavanshee, GOC, Sudarshan Chakra Division.

On this occasion, a medical camp for retired servicemen was also organised under the aegis of Chetak Corps. Specialists from various disciplines like medicine,
surgery, gynaecology, dentistry, ophthalmology and ontology attended the camp and treated approximately 1200 patients.

Addressing the retired servicemen, Maj Gen RN Suryavanshee said that the Army has been trying its best to help them in every possible way and advised them to approach the Station Headquarters if they have any problem. Brig NK Singh, Commander, 83 Infantry Brigade also spoke on the occasion.

War widows were presented a TV set each, physically challenged ex-servicemen a tri-cycle each and financial aid was provided to the needy ex-servicemen and widows.

The 198th Group Day-cum-Reunion of Bengal Engineer Group (BEG), popularly known as "Bengal Sappers", was held in Roorkee.

Lt Gen Hari Uniyal, Engineer-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, reviewed the parade and took salute at the march-past. Col D J Thosre, Deputy Commandant of the BEG and Centre commanded the spectacular parade in which 17 officers, 32 JCOs and 500 ORs participated.

Addressing the parade, Lt Gen Uniyal appreciated the turnout and called upon all ranks to re-dedicate themselves for the cause of nation. Referring to the recent tri-Service affiliation, he said that Bengal Sappers was the first in the Armed Forces to have the affiliation with both INS Brahmaputra and Air Force Station, Sarsawa.

Later, at a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, Lt Gen Uniyal laid a wreath at the BEG War Memorial in memory of those war heroes who laid down their lives and brought glory to the nation. A two-minute silence was observed and the last post was sounded on this solemn occasion.

Air Cmde Vipin Kumar took over the Command of No 24 Equipment Depot, Air Force station Manauri as Air Officer Commanding.

Air Cmde Vipin Kumar is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Logistics Branch of Indian Air Force on January 28, 1969. During his 32 years of colourful service, he has rendered excellent service to the material management and explosive management in IAF. He is a post graduate of the college of Defence Management. For his distinguished service of the highest order, he was commended by the Chief of Air Staff and AOC-in-C, HQ MC, IAF.

The mortal remains of Maj Rajesh Nair were consigned to flames at the Nerul Crematorium, Navi Mumbai with full military honours.

Maj Rajesh Nair was commissioned in 106 Medium Regiment (Artillery). He was serving with 4 Rashtriya Rifles in Doda district. On night of November 14-15, last year it was informed that Abu Talah who was an area commander of Hizbul Jamaite Islami and a local terrorist, were hiding in a village Bhadrawah. Immediately
a cordon and search was launched.

Next day morning, while doing house-to-house search, fire was exchanged between the terrorists and Army. In an effort to flush out the terrorists, Maj Rajesh Nair lost his life in the best traditions of Army. Terrorist Abu Talah was also killed during the operation. Maj Rajesh Nair, a resident of Nerul, Mumbai is survived by his wife and a son.

Army Wives’ Welfare Association, Pangode has embarked upon a new scheme to make JCO/OR ladies to be more independent and self-reliant by organising driving classes at the station. The scheme has been enthusiastically welcomed by the ladies.

The first batch of 16 ladies is presently undergoing thirty days driving course. The training has been highly subsidised by the AWWA and costs the participants one fourth of what it costs at a private driving school. The students who get qualified will have an added advantage of getting a driving licence at the end of the course.

A trans-Thar trekking expedition starting from northern-most tip of Rann of Kutch at Bakasar and ending at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, was flagged off by Lt Gen D P Sehgal, Signal Officer-in-Chief at Army Headquarters. The novelty of the expedition was that the team members would trek a distance of 700 kms in the Thar desert. It was probably the first time that such a distance was covered on foot in this area. The expedition, led by Maj Vivek Dogra, was organised by Army Headquarters Signal Regiment.

As part of Navy Week celebrations 50, children belonging to Sadhna Vidyalaya Dadar, a school, for hearing impaired children were taken out for harbour cruise on ferry craft ‘Nancy’ from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The children had an opportunity to see the naval ships from very close proximity.

Maj Gen IJS Bora, GOC, 101 Area inaugurated a CSD Canteen Extension Counter and bakery shop at Rhino Cinema Complex and a gymnasium at Garrison Ground, Shillong. The new counter and gymnasium provide the defence personnel of the station and their families an opportunity to procure canteen and bakery items at reasonable prices and avail the sports and health club facilities for physical fitness.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) units of Chandigarh celebrated 54th anniversary with enthusiasm. Several activities were organised to mark the occasion.

NCC cadets held an impressive aero and ship modelling show on this occasion. They also carried out sailing and rowing activities in the Sukhna Lake. A photo exhibition was also put up at the Lake. The young cadets participated in an attractive march-past held at Central Polytechnic Ground, Chandigarh.

Deputy Director General, NCC, Brig RS Kalha, on the occasion, greeted all NCC ranks, civilians and cadets of the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. He said the Corps has been marching ahead in these states with a number of cadets holding high offices and excelling in various walks of life. The NCC gained an impressive growth with the present strength of 96282 cadets from 393 colleges and 695 schools in these states, he added.

The students of Army School, Chandimandir celebrated 13th annual day at the Manekshaw Auditorium, Chandimandir. The occasion was marked by a cultural programme and prize distribution function with Maj Gen A K Vasudev, Major General, Artillery, HQ Western Command and Chairman, School Management Committee as chief guest.

The motto of the function ‘excellence through mass participation’ was well achieved by the participation of as many as 600 students who enthralled the august gathering with their cultural programmes.

Senior students impressed the gathering through an English Play Arms and the Man written by George Bernard Shaw and Hindi Play titled Butt Bol Utha.

The grand finale of the show was a Bhojpuri dance depicting exuberance and joy at the harvesting time. Principal of the school, Lt Col (Retd) N R Baberwal read out the annual report highlighting the achievements of the school during the current session. The function came to an end with Mrs Veena Vasudev giving away prizes to the outstanding students in academics and other activities.

A ‘Healthy Baby’ contest was organised at Motivation Hall, Navy Nagar by the Naval Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) and Station Health Organisation (Navy) at Community Hall, New Navy Nagar in Mumbai. Mrs Uma Pasricha, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), Western Region was the chief guest on the occasion.

Eighteen month-old baby Gaurav Singh, son of Mr KB Singh was adjudged the King Baby. Mrs Pasricha crowned the King Baby and awarded prizes and merit certificates to other participants.

The contest was for sailors’ children and had been divided into four groups : 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-18 months and 19-24 months. Preliminary screening of 100 babies was completed based on parameters like birth weight, weight/height for age, immunisation status, milestones achieved etc.

The aim of the contest was to raise awareness about immunisation, nutrition, healthy growth and development of children. The prizes for the contest were jointly sponsored by AWWA and Johnson & Johnson.

Under the aegis of Red Eagle Artillery Brigade, the winners of Services Marathon were felicitated at a glittering function held at Polo Ground, New Cantonment in Allahabad.

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Commandant, Services Selection Centre (East), was the chief guest on the occasion who gave away the prizes to the winners of the Inter Services Marathon 2001-2002. Hav Sumer Singh of Army Red was the winner of Services Marathon. L/Nk Arvind Kumar and L/Nk Jaybhay, both from Army Green, secured second and third position respectively. Apart from the top position holders, the other runners-up were awarded certificate of merit by Gen Satbir Singh. The function was attended by a large number of senior officers from the three Services.

The team championship for the Services Marathon was jointly won by the Army Red and Army Green who stood first with a total score of 13 points, followed by Navy with seven points and Air Force with three points.