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A Gorkha Regiment team performs at the rally in Ranchi on Thursday. Picture by Prashant Mitra
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A helicopter flypast, daredevil stunts on motorcycles, cultural programmes showcasing the country’s rich heritage — it was an event-filled and colourful Morabadi ground in Ranchi on Thursday, thanks to the Indian Army’s Cockerel Division.
The “rally” meant for welfare of ex-servicemen had Lieutenant General Gyan Bhushan, general officer commanding-in-chief South Western Command and Lieutenant General P.R. Kumar, general officer commanding Strike-1 and other civil and military dignitaries in attendance, along with chief minister Arjun Munda.
Inaugurated amid a colourful display of balloons followed by a flypast by an army chopper, the event witnessed distribution of special scooters and motorised wheelchair for disabled veterans as well as disbursement of financial assistance for improvement of dwelling units and education of children of ex-servicemen.
The Cockerel Division also set up kiosks to dispense information on resettlement opportunities, pension adalat, army welfare housing, medical and dental check-up and ex-servicemen’s contributory health scheme for veterans.
Lt Col. Saurabh Chouhan, deputed to provide information to newsmen, said the purpose of the rally was to bring together the veteran soldiers and “Veer Naris” of the state to address issues pertaining to their welfare and well being.
He said on Friday, a “know your army” exhibition was being organised at the same venue.
Though the programme was for ex-servicemen, children from schools and colleges thronged the ground despite the rain as they noticed equipment being set up for Friday’s programme.
In his speech, chief minister Arjun Munda said that he would make every effort to open defence pension disbursement offices at Ranchi and Hazaribagh and try to waive value added tax on material sold from the army canteen.
Apart from this, he also assured assistance of Rs 3 crore from the state government for maintenance and beautification of the war memorial near Booty More. He said the state government planned to open five clinics for ex-serviceman in Chaibasa, Gumla, Daltonganj, Deoghar and Hazaribagh and a hostel for proper education of children of ex-servicemen and war widows in Ranchi.
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