After taking over as Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral OP Bansal visited the premiere air station of Coast Guard at Daman to review its operational preparedness. The Vice Admiral along with Inspector General P Paleri were received by Capt Manjeet Singh, Commanding Officer of the station.

The Vice Admiral inspected an impressive parade with 51 men guard at the air station. After the parade, he addressed the men and praised them for their immaculate turnout and smart march past. He also complimented the air station for its laudable achievements in the recent past.

Later, addressing a press conference he said that Coast Guard Air Stations are fully equipped with Dorniers, Chetak helicopters and the latest state-of-the art meteorological and ATC equipments including a most modern radar through which a constant vigil is being kept on Indian waters. He said Coast Guard personnel are performing their duties most competently and apart from their usual surveillance of Indian maritime boundary, their participation in various sports activities and general maintenance of physical fitness is praiseworthy. He added that the duties of Coast Guard are not restricted to defending maritime boundaries only but also encompass thwarting piracy of ships, controlling marine pollution, extending SAR coverage to fishermen at sea and guarding the vital Indian offshore installations. He further opined that Navy and Coast Guard are complementary to each other. Later the Vice Admiral had an informal tea with the station personnel.

The 8th battalion of the Madras Regiment known as ‘‘Gallant Guerrillas’’, now based in Chennai, celebrated its victory in the battle of Ramnagar during 1971 Indo-Pak war at the Pallavaram Army Camp.

Col Krishan Kumar, Commanding Officer of the battalion and his officers and men laid wreaths at the unit’s war memorial as a mark of respect to the war heroes of the battalion. Prayers were offered at the Sarv-dharmsthal, by the soldiers of the unit who belong to southern states and various religions.

The 8th Madras was raised on August 20, 1948 and since then it had participated in various operations. It was awarded ‘Theatre Honour East Pakistan - 1971’ and ‘Unit Appreciation - 1997-99’ for its professional excellence.

Lt Gen SP Malhotra, Commandant of AMC Centre, School and Records who has also been made a Colonel Commandant of Army Medical Corps (AMC), was presented a guard-of-honour at AMC Stadium in Lucknow Cantonment. The smartly turned up 52-member contingent for the guard-of-honour was commanded by Maj Amit Saksena.

Commandant of AMC Centre and School & OIC Records, AMC since October 2001, Lt Gen Malhotra is a graduate of Kanpur Medical College.

Commissioned in the Army Medical Corps in June 1964, Lt Gen Malhotra has held various appointments such as graded specialist ENT, Senior Advisor in various Service Hospitals and Professor and HoD ENT at the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.

The Lieutenant General held many important appointments in staff, and command positions and had served in field area during 1965 and 1971 wars.

Institute of National Integration (INI) at Pune achieved another milestone in its efforts to promote its enhanced aim and objectives by conducting a two week Pilot Course on Behavioural and Social Sciences for middle level officers. 18 officers (3 Cols, 9 Lt Cols, 6 Majs) from all arms and services attended the course.

The officers with service bracket of 14-28 years realised from the course that one’s life and attitude towards work could be made more sublime by going through practical yoga and meditation sessions, understanding of self, inner consciousness, deeper meaning of value system, relationship between body, mind and intellect and various other facets. Middle level officers who attended the course strongly felt that the course would help them to perform their duties well. The officers were overwhelmingly satisfied with the course and as a token of reverence presented a trophy to the Institute.

A battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry celebrated its 40th raising day somewhere in the Western Sector. The battalion was initially raised during World War - II and fought with distinction during Burma campaign. It was awarded Battle Honour Ruywa. The unit was re-raised in 1962 by Lt Col (Later Maj Gen) E D’ Souza (Retd) and saw actions in Natu La, Nagaland, Sri Lanka, Arunachal Pradesh and J & K.

The main attraction of the celebrations was the sainik sammelan where three generations of soldiers assembled to share their views and thoughts. Nk Krushna Yerudkar, a World War - II veteran, came all the way from Mumbai to present his medals to the battalion. He was followed by Nk Vishwanath Bhosale who withstood Chinese intrusion at Natu La in 1963, presented his coveted medals to the battalion. After re-raising in 1962, Nk Vishwanath Bhosale was the first gallantry award winner of the battalion. The most touching moment was when Mrs Sharda Telbhare, young widow of Sep Manjhabhau Telbhare, walked up the podium to present the medals of her valiant late husband who laid down his life fighting foreign mercenaries in Surankot (J&K) in 1999.

Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional) of Southern Air Command contributed rupees ten thousand to the patients’ welfare fund of the Military Hospital, Pangode. AFWWA (Regional) President, Mrs Parminder K Sekhon, presented the cheque for the amount to Lt Col J Chitharanjan, Commanding Officer of the Military Hospital. Air Cmde SM Pendharkar, Principal Medical Officer of Southern Air Command was also present on the occasion.

Mrs Sekhon also visited the wards and enquired about the welfare of the serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and dependents and distributed sweet packets to the patients.

- P Rajendran
from Thiruvananthapuram

Lt Gen BK Bopanna, Director General, NCC accompanied by his wife Mrs Usha Bopanna visited NCC Woman Officers Training School (WOTS), Gwalior. He was welcomed by Brig SKS Negi, Commandant WOTS. This was his first visit to Gwalior after assuming his present appointment.

Lt Gen Bopanna enquired about the activities of WOTS and discussed with the Commandant on matters relating to the training of lady associate NCC officers, who are trained in this institute which is the only institute of its kind in Asia. He witnessed the training being imparted in the current pre-commission and refresher cum promotion courses. He met the lady trainees who came from all the corners of the country. He asked them to carry out the task of leading the younger generation. He said that after reaching back to their schools and colleges they should motivate their students towards discipline, hard work and commitment for nation.

Lt Gen Bopanna also visited the various branches and the facilities at WOTS. He was also briefed about the activities under progress at the institute. He also has an informal get-together with the previous commandants of the institute and other NCC officers of the station.

He also witnessed a courageous feat by Miss Sangita Ladkani of 3 MP Battalion NCC. This girl cadet pulled two trucks together by her teeth. The display was witnessed by Lt Gen Bopanna along with other officers, staff and trainees of NCC, WOTS.

The 4th Coast Guard district headquarter has acquired a Sea Vac Heli-Skimmer system for undertaking pollution response in the coast of Kerala and Lakshadweep recently. The Sea Vac Heli-Skimmer system is a self-propelled oil spill recovery vessel, designed for high volume oil collection in calm to moderate sea conditions. The system consists of a floating work platform with control console, two outboard motors, two centrifugal pumps, davits, two outrigger assemblies, containment basin, hoses, a Sea Vac 330 Delta Skimmer and Sea Container Towable Transfer Tanks (optional).

The system was recently inaugurated by Mr Jacob Thomas, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust. The Deputy Conservator of Cochin Port Trust, Capt CV Jose was also present on the occasion.

No 5 Air Squadron NCC (UP) has added a feather in its cap by bagging PM’s rolling trophy 2001-2002, for being the "Best Gliding as well as Best Training Unit" in the country for the second consecutive year. It has also bagged the prestigious Governors’ trophy for being the best Air Squadron and best Gliding Unit of the State for the years 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. During the year 2001, it conducted 2200 gliding launches for select cadets and five of its cadets performed solo flying. The Squadron has also bagged Line Area Dressing trophy for the current year at All India Vayusainik camp held at Bangalore.

Headed by Wg Cdr GK Sachdev and assisted by Sqn Ldr Rakesh Singh, No 5 Air Squadron NCC (UP) has been training and motivating over 1200 NCC cadets on its roll. In the last quarter of 2001, it imparted to 300 senior cadets the experience of flying, airmanship, airfield and basic effects of control in the Zen Air microlight aircraft which the Squadron acquired last year.

Skeet Shooting is another unique adventure activity available in the Air Wing of the NCC. Other activities such as aero-modelling, drill etc are also available in the Air Wing of the NCC. Not only that, three cadets of the Squadron had been selected for going abroad under the Youth Exchange Programme in recent years. Whereas Cadet Warrant Officer Ravi Negi and Cadet Sgt Sachin Srivastava went to England, Cadet Warrant Officer Shatanshu Jaggi visited Singapore in 2001.

Forming part of the Lucknow Group Headquarters NCC under the jurisdiction of Directorate of NCC, UP and Uttaranchal, the Squadron receives administrative and operational support from Air Force Station Bakshi-ka-Talab.

A blood donation camp was organised at the Command Hospital Lucknow. Sixtyfive cadets, including fifteen girls of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) donated blood. The camp was held under the supervision of Lt Col Vikram Nim.

Speaking on the occasion, Bri A K Pandey, DDG, NCC, UP and Uttaranchal, urged the cadets to donate blood at least once a year to save previous lives.

The blood was collected under the supervision of Lt Col S Gokhle, OIC Blood Bank. Col R S Shah, Officiating Commandant and Brig (Mrs) Shashi Bala, Principal Matron of Command Hospital were also present on the occasion.

The boy cadets belonged to Lucknow based 63, 64 and 67 UP NCC Battalions as well as 26 Battalion NCC (UP), Lakhuimpur and 66 NCC (UP), Raebareli. The girl cadets belonged to 19 and 20 Girls’ Battalions NCC (UP) Lucknow.

Maj Dhirendra Ojha
from Lucknow

An impressive ex-servicemen rally was organised by the Army at the border town of Dera Baba Nanak, with a view to establish closer interaction with the ex-servicemen of Gurdaspur district. The rally aimed at providing guidance on the resettlement schemes of the government and the various re-employment opportunities available for the ex-servicemen.

Inaugurating the rally, Maj Gen AD Nargolwala, Chief of Staff 11 Corps lauded the yeoman service rendered to the nation by the ex-servicemen of Gurdaspur district during their prime years. He also apprised the gathering of the Army Placement Nodes created at Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ludhiana. These centres help to provide employment to the ex-servicemen and war widows. He also informed about the extension of military hospital facilities and medical insurance schemes for wards of ex-servicemen and widows at Army Public School, Beas and Dagshai and Sainik School, Kapurthala.

On this occasion, a medical camp, information booths, pension related redressal cell and stalls on horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, bee keeping and agriculture management were organised.

Mr Subir Dutta Secretary (DP&S), Ministry of Defence inaugurated the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) Technical/Office accommodation and the Officers’ Mess near Gunrock Enclave, Secunderabad. The function was attended by the senior officers of the Station, executives of DRDO, BEL, ECIL, HAL and OF Medak.

Presently all DGQA establishments are housed in old barracks and in civil hired buildings. This exclusive accommodation, built at a cost of Rs 5 crores will provide a quantum jump technically and administratively in the quality of working conditions of these establishments.

Lt Gen Amarjit Singh, DGQA, speaking during the function complimented the project management for completing this prestigious project well in time. Further, he informed the gathering that the ensuing Phase-II of the accommodation will include married accommodation for officers and staff. This will make DGQA self-sufficient in accommodation.

Under the aegis of Konark AWWA a handicraft fair was organised at the Konark Auditorium recently. It was inaugurated by President AWWA Desert Corps, Mrs Lakshmi Hari Prasad.

Besides providing an opportunity for all AWWA members to meet together, this fair also provided an avenue for displaying the handicraft items made by the families. More than a thousand families in the station along with Corps Commander Lt Gen Hari Prasad, Chief of Staff, Maj Gen VS Budhwar along with their wives visited the mela. They also lauded the effort taken by the Jodhpur AWWA for organising this mela and making available all the items a family requires under one roof. The profit generated out of this fair will be utilised exclusively for the welfare of the families of JCOs/ORs of the station.

Sailing has since long been EME’s forte. EME sailors have proved their skill time and again on national and international waters. They have once again been recognised by the Yachting Association of India (YAI), the Apex body for sailing in India, by awarding Hav Rajesh Choudhary the Admiral RH Tahiliani Trophy. This trophy was awarded to Hav Choudhary for proving himself to be the best yachtsman of the year 2000. The trophy was awarded by the YAI to Hav Rajesh Choudhary at Mumbai. This is another feather in the cap as Hav Rajesh Choudhary has brought laurels not only to EME but to the Army as whole.

Assam Regiment lifted the title of the Army Football Championship Cluster-I defeating Bengal Engineer Group (Roorkee) 1-0 at 11 GRRC Ground in Lucknow cantonment.

Displaying an interesting game, both teams tried to score in vain in the stipulated time. Thus extra time was allowed where taking a pass from Hav Sansel Koireng and without making any mistake, Hav Rengkhup Tiente scored the solitary decisive goal for Assam Regiment team.

At the conclusion of the championship, medals to the recipients were presented by Maj Gen Ram S K Kapur, Chief Engineer, Central Command.

The JAK Rif Regimental volleyball team representing the HQ MP B&O area won the Central Command Volleyball Championship with convincing superiority over other teams. The championship was held at Jabalpur.

The team defeated 6 Mountain Division volleyball team in the final match in a very keenly contested tournament. The team also won all league and knock out matches in straight sets establishing their superiority throughout the tournament.

Individual prizes and Central Command Volleyball Championship trophy were given away to the winners by Brig DN Varma at the JAK Rif Regimental Centre.

The APS Junior Wing celebrated its annual sports day recently. Maj Gen P Vig was the chief guest on the occasion.

The show commenced with the tiny tots presenting an enchanting drill aptly called ‘magic colours’. This was proceeded by yoga. Young children demonstrated the ‘asanas’ with both poise and excellence. Aerobics, the western model of the reinvigorating yoga was the next display. After these splendid drills, the audience witnessed exciting nail biting races. The parents too joined in for an exciting race. Interspersed with Giddha and Bhangra, the audience were spell bound with the mystical performances of the young artists and gave a thunderous ovation.