A study has found that there is a need for skill training of widows and parents of martyred armed personnel, especially in rural areas. The study also recommended the formation of a Veer Nari Niketan and skill training centre in Satara, Maharashtra. The survey was conducted by Anuradha Gore whose only son Captain Vinayak Vishnu was martyred in 1995 in Kupwara (J&K) during Operation Rakshak. She has written 16 books on Army so far. In her latest research, Gore surveyed 150 families across the districts of Satara, Pune, Kolhapur and Mumbai in Maharashtra and in many other states. Satara and Kolhapur have the highest number of armed forces recruits in Maharashtra.
“The Sainik welfare office looks after most of our needs. It provides medical and financial support but has its limitations. Several young women are in need of psychological support that is lacking,” Gore told The Indian Express. Another problem in that the families of martyred army men get stable pension and compensation but those who die due to other reasons, the compensation provided to these families is low.
The families of Armymen are very disturbed on stone pelting in Jammu & Kashmir. “Families of Army personnel want honor and respect. In rural areas, several women said stone pelting (in J&K) was a disgrace. Soldiers risk their lives for people. They wanted government to bring a legislation to curb this,” said Gore.
The study by Gore has been submitted to Maharashtra State Commission for Women. Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of the women’s commission has looked after the study and is considered to formulate a committee to consider the recommendations of the research. “We found that widows require some kind of skill training and social support. We are considering to regularly send counsellor and psychiatrist to Sainik kalyan mandal,” said Rahatkar. “There are recommendations for the central government too. I have written to the Union defence minister for a meeting to discuss the same,” she added.
There are many NGOs which work for the welfare of the Armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Indian Coast Guards) like Sainik Welfare Organization, Lakshya Foundation, War Wounded Foundation, Army Wives Welfare Association, and Maruti Veer Jawan Trust. But these organizations only provide financial support to families of armed personnel, there is still a need for psychological and moral support to these families. The widows of the armed force personnel need moral support from family and society to move on in life.
Modi government is expected to take action on the recommendations of the study. The government has pro-actively supported the welfare armed forces and paramilitary forces personnel. Recently, the donation to ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ trust has been exempted from Income Tax. The trust was formed on April 9, 2017 by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar.
