Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Visits 'Sainya Sampark Mela' in Deoghar, Emphasizes Veteran Welfare
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan visited the ‘Sainya Sampark Mela – Sadaiv Aapke Saath’ in Deoghar, Jharkhand, reaffirming the nation's commitment to ex-servicemen and war widows.
The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, visited the ‘Sainya Sampark Mela – Sadaiv Aapke Saath’ organized in Deoghar, Jharkhand. The fair was organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Deoghar district administration, with the primary objective of providing welfare services and grievance redressal facilities to ex-servicemen, war widows (Veer Naris), and their dependents in the Santhal Pargana region.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President paid tribute to the invaluable sacrifices made by ex-servicemen and war widows. He stated that since soldiers have always stood by the nation, the nation must always stand by them and their families. Describing ex-servicemen as a vital national resource, he noted that their experience could guide the youth and contribute significantly to nation-building.
Referring to his tenure as the former Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Radhakrishnan highlighted the state's glorious tradition of military service and sacrifice. He paid tribute to Param Vir Chakra winner Lance Naik Albert Ekka and remembered the contributions of tribal freedom fighters such as Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu-Kanhu, and Nilambar-Pitambar.
The Vice President mentioned the fulfillment of the 'One Rank, One Pension' demand and other welfare initiatives launched for ex-servicemen under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He praised the 'single-window system' established at the fair, stating that bringing pension assistance, medical facilities, and grievance redressal onto a single platform is a meaningful example of last-mile delivery.
During his visit, the Vice President inspected various stalls, which included displays of weapons and military equipment, disaster relief facilities, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) services, medical check-ups, blood donation camps, and NCC activities. He also interacted with the beneficiaries and ex-servicemen present there.
The occasion was attended by the Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar; Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav; Members of Parliament Dr. Nishikant Dubey and Shri Aditya Sahu; General Officer Commanding of 111 Area, Lieutenant General Pawan Chadha; and the Chairperson of the Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust, Ms. Anamika Gautam, along with senior officers of the Indian Army and civil administration. The Vice President appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army, the Deoghar district administration, and MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey for this initiative.