INDIA. Mumbai: On the occasion of the 74th Army Day on January 15, Saturday, the widows of the martyred soldiers and disabled Ex-Servicemen were felicitated in the functions organized at eight locations, by the Headquarters, North Maharashtra and Gujarat sub-area, Nagpur.
The functions were organized at Bhusawal, Nagpur, Pulgaon, Devlali (Maharashtra) and Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Dharangdhara, and Bhuj (Gujarat).
On the occasion, a total of 21 needy widows and one disabled Ex-Serviceman were felicitated and given financial assistance of Rs 50,000/- each. Similar aid was extended to 44 widows/ Veer Naris (brave women) and disabled Ex-Servicemen in January last year.
Speaking at the felicitation function, Major Gen Dinesh Hooda, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Sub Area highlighted the importance of looking after the welfare of needy and disabled Ex-Servicemen and also widows who are in financial distress and are unable to sustain their living with the limited pension benefits.
The 74th Army Day was marked also at the War Memorial in Pune (Maharashtra), with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, Lieutenant General J S Nain laying a wreath and paying homage to those who made the supreme sacrifice while safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation.
Army Day is celebrated every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal KM Cariappa taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, on January 15, 1949. The commemoration is also a salute to honour the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and its citizens.
Attestation parade
In another development on the Army Day, a passing out parade and attestation was carried for the recruits of 131st Course and Rakshaks (DSC) at Guards Regimental Centre, Kamptee, in Nagpur (Maharashtra).
A wreath-laying ceremony was also carried out to pay respect to brave soldiers. In the program, the recruits of the 131st Course at the Guards Regimental Centre, Kamptee were attested as soldiers of the Indian Army. In the parade, they took the solemn oath to protect the nation even at the peril of life.
The parade was reviewed by Colonel Vivek Sharma, Officiating Commandant, Brigade of the Guards Regimental Centre. The Reviewing Officer was impressed upon the recruits; that becoming a soldier is a matter of pride and also an onerous responsibility. He exhorted the recruits to commit themselves to the service of the nation physically, mentally, and in all dimensions. He gave away medals to the outstanding performers of the course. Recruit Rohit Kumar, hailing from Panipat(Haryana), was adjudged the Best Recruit.
Rear Admiral K P Arvindan takes over as ASD
Rear Admiral K P Arvindan took over as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in an impressive ceremony held at the dockyard on Friday.
K P Arvindan, an alumnus of Naval College of Engineering, INS Shivaji, Lonavla, is from the first batch of the Naval Engineering Course and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in November 1987. The Admiral holds a B-Tech degree in Marine Engineering and an M-Tech degree in Industrial Engineering from NITIE, Mumbai.
A recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Admiral was serving as Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at Headquarters, Western Naval Command, Mumbai, before taking over as the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard.
His recent appointments include Commanding Officer of the premier training establishment, INS Shivaji, Lonavala near Pune(Maharashtra) and Commodore (Fleet Maintenance), Mumbai, an assignment he handled for four years. This included handling issues related to maintenance and repair support for the aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya, and the submarine fleet of the Indian Navy. On promotion to the flag rank, the officer was appointed as Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ship Repair Yard, Karwar (Karnataka).
