Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had announced ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ to rally the citizens behind the brave soldiers who guard the borders by staying away from their families. The government takes care of the soldiers after their retirement through a dedicated Office for soldiers’ welfare in every district. This office not only looks after the returning soldiers, but also of their families after retirement or demise of the soldiers. The citizens of Nagpur district showed their affection for the soldiers by collecting Rs 3.09 cr for Armed Forces Flag Day Fund in 2023-24, making it the top collector in Vidarbha region while coming at number three in the State. This collection was 161% more than the intended collection target of Rs 1.88 cr for the same period. Major Anand Patharkar (Retd), an officer decorated with Sena Medal, is currently holding additional charge as Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO) of Nagpur. He expressed his satisfaction over the fund collection while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.

 

He said, “This is a big achievement for the district that we are among the top three in the State and top in Vidarbha region. There was an immense contribution of District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar in raising this fund,” he said. He also acknowledged the contribution of Major Dr Shilpa Kharapkar, former ZSWO of Nagpur who is now Deputy Director of Department of Sainik Welfare. Major Patharkar and Dr Vipin Itankar will be felicitated for the achievement at the hands of C P Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, on Saturday on occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day in Mumbai. The Zilla Sainik Welfare Office utilises this fund to sponsor education of wards of former soldiers who pass the 10th and 12th examination, students who secure admission in top colleges in the country like IIT, IIM, or AIIMS, National Defense Academy (NDA); or wards who get commissioned as officers in the Indian Defense Forces. The fund is also used for any requirement of the families of former soldiers like building houses or establishing new business.

 

Major Patharkar informed ‘The Hitavada’ that the Nagpur office had taken up the work worth Rs 76 lakh to repair the Girls’ Hostel opposite Hislop College in Civil Lines. He also informed that Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) had committed to donate Rs 20 lakh every year as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. Along with Nagpur, Amravati has also performed well in fund collection. Amravati district has managed to collect Rs 1.38 cr against target of Rs 1.10 cr while Yavatmal district in the division has collected Rs 88 lakh against the target of Rs 55 lakh.