Shillong, Feb. 19: Come Saturday, and more than 600 former members of armed forces will assemble for the annual rally here where their problems are expected to be addressed.

The former servicemen would meet at the Assam Regimental Centre, Happy Valley, where chief minister Mukul Sangma will be the chief guest. The programme is being held under the aegis of Headquarters 101 Area and the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Meghalaya.

Defence spokesperson Group Captain Amit Mahajan said the aim of the rally is to address the problems of ex-servicemen and highlight their contributions while re-dedicating the commitment of Indian army and the Meghalaya government towards the well-being of ex-servicemen and their dependents.

At the 19th annual Rajya Sainik Board meeting held in December last year, the issue of raising an "Ecological Battalion" from among ex-servicemen and youths of the state and a "Home and Hearth Battalion" with a strength of 1,500 youths for intelligence gathering and operations, were discussed.

The meeting also discussed issues concerning welfare of former servicemen and welfare of war widows. It also decided to set up Sainik rest houses here and in Tura, besides a zila Sainik Board office. Group Capt. Mahajan said at the rally more than 600 former servicemen, war widows and gallantry awardees are expected to be present and they will be felicitated.