Date:04/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/04/stories/2006040405121000.htm

National

Army reaches out to veterans

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In a symbolic act, the Army has decided to refer to its former colleagues as "veterans" instead of calling them retired servicemen. It has also decided on a slew of measures to enhance interaction with them.

"Calling them veterans may not mean much in material terms but it symbolises the fact that we have not severed our ties with them after retirement. This change in nomenclature is part of our `Hearts first and reaching out approach' in resolving all issues relating to veterans," said Army spokesperson S. K. Sakhuja on Monday.

Adjutant-General A. S. Jamwal, the Army's seniormost officer in-charge of personnel issues, has been visiting major cantonments meeting former servicemen and their dependants, and widows.

The new approach is being implemented in the wake of private studies by former army officers indicating that while soldiers are among the youngest to retire from government service, their life expectancy is also the lowest.