Assam Rifles director general Lt Gen P.C. Nair has set a new standard for the force by travelling extensively around the country to address the issues of retired personnel.
From Kerala to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Nair has visited veterans to find out what problems they face.
“Some have pension issues, some have issues of banking. There are many who complained to [Nair] about not getting pension on time or the education of their children being affected,” said a spokesperson of the Assam Rifles.
“The issues are either resolved instantly or being sent to our headquarters for early resolve.” The Assam Rifles in the northeast looks after the porous India-Myanmar border.
Nair is the first DG of the Assam Rifles to not only look into issues of retired personnel, but also to meet them personally and bring out old stories to document the history of the force.
Assam Rifles is the only force to have fought in all wars that independent India has faced, except the Kargil War with Pakistan. It played a key role during Sikkim’s merger with India in 1970s.
The DG’s focus is also to make the force known across India. As a result, recruitment drives are also held in different parts of the country so that people can join India's oldest paramilitary force.
“It is a rare gesture by the DG to tour across India and meet old soldiers of the force. I think it is unique in the case of any force in India,” said a senior official of the Assam Rifles.
The officer said 40 complaints of different issues were resolved by DG. “And 15 were resolved on the spot. The rest have been sent to the headquarters in Shillong,” he said.
The DG has also taken initiatives to find and support former veer naris (women family members of martyred personnel) and past awardees of the force. Wheelchairs were also donated to a few.
