A corps information room has been set up at Headquarters 33 Corps. The information room, called 'Bunker', is aimed at providing information about the inhabitants of local area and their culture. The information regarding the terrain of the area is also given as the officers on being posted to or on a visit to the Headquarters need to be educated about the environment. The ‘Bunker’ was inaugurated by Lt Gen Avtar Singh, Corps Commander.

Chief of the Army Staff, Gen NC Vij and Lt Gen JS Verma, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command visited the ‘Bunker’ recently. Speaking to the personnel on the occasion, the Army Chief exhorted all officers to make full use of the new facility. He complimented the officers for making efforts for compilation of information.

The Pune-based Army Sports Institute (ASI) will have state-of-the-art facilities for better performances at Asian Games and Olympics, said Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen JBS Yadava while unveiling the foundation plaque of the grandiose sports complex at the institute. He further said the Army has decided to provide the most modern facilities for the training of probable medal-winnders. "After India's poor performance at the last Asian Games and Olympics, the government has entrusted the Army with producing sportspersons of international standard from within its ranks", said the General. The complex, spread over 69 acres at a cost of Rs 24 crore, will have all the modern facilities.

Army has identified ten disciplines of sports and allocated athletics, boxing, archery, swimming and weightlifting to the new complex which will come up within a year. The General also added that a provision has also been made in the new complex to train oustanding women sportspersons.

At a time when there is a desired flow of funds for operational requirements, the fund managers of Army should equip themselves for better financial management so as to utilise the allocation to the fullest. This was stated by Lt Gen Satish Satpute, Chief of Staff, Southern Command while inaugurating a three-day interactive course in ‘Defence Financial Management’ at the Regional Training Centre of the Controller of Defence Accounts (Officers) at Pune.

The General further added that budgeting is a complicated process with a lot of peculiar intricacies. Since the officers dealing with financial management are not trained before they take up connected assignments, they tend to follow the beaten track left by their predecessors. Lack of knowledge of procedures and regulations leads to under-utilisation and surrender of unspent allocations. The General hoped that the course would enhance their financial management ability to tackle the challenges.

The course, organised by the Defence Accounts Department, was attended by more than 20 officers from various constituents of Southern Command.

Brig SS Tonk inaugurated a dental centre at Gunghora Cantt recently. The dental centre has state- of-the-art equipment to look after the dental hygiene of servicemen and their families staying in the garrison.

Addressing a large gathering of officers, Jawans and their families, Brig SS Tonk said that the essential amenities now available at the centre would help in improving the quality of life of troops and their families.

Annual Provost Conference of all Commanding Officers of Military Police Units located within the Central Command was held in Lucknow Cantonment. Lt Gen AS Jamwal, Chief of Staff, HQ Central Command chaired the conference.

The team of CWE and GE (West) with 42 points stood first in the MES inter-office sports tournaments. GE (E/M) with 36 points and CELZ with 26 points were placed second and third respectively. A cultural programme and a number of competitions also marked the occasion.

A two-day annual meet of Principals of Army Schools and Army Public Schools and Staff Officers dealing with the school administration was conducted under the aegis of Vajra Corps at Army Public School in Jalandhar Cantonment.

The meeting commenced with a welcome address to the delegates by the Vice Patron of Army Public School, Jalandhar and an inaugural address by Lt Gen PK Grover, Chief of Staff, Western Command. Two eminent educationists, Mr YP Bhardwaj and DR Vij also addressed the conference.

The aim of the meet was to discuss issues relating to Army Schools and Army Public Schools and also to work out a practical strategy to improve schools' environment.

The 509 Army Base Workshop (ABW), Agra won National Safety Award for 2001 and 2002. This award has been constituted by Ministry of Labour, Government of India. The awards were presented by Union Minister of Labour, Mr Sahib Singh Verma to Brig AKS Chandele, Commandant, 509 ABW at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi.

The 509 ABW has a proud history of winning this award on a number of occasions. This year the award was won amidst a stiff competition from more than 100 public and private sector units.

Late Mr SK Mathur has been awarded Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar-2002 for special repairs to level jack motor of radar flycatcher resulting in a saving of about Rs 3,00,000 per motor.

A team of doctors headed by Dr B Paul of the Regional Cancer Centre, Kamla Nehru Hospital visited the camp. In the lectures delivered by the doctors, they stressed the need of an early detection and reporting of cancer. If detected at an early stage, cancer can be treated with high success rates.

Recently Lt Gen VK Dhir, DGEME and Senior Colonel Commandant, handed over three T-72 tanks overhauled by 505 Army Base Workshop to Lt Gen VK Jetley, MGO at an impressive ceremony. Lt Gen MK Chari, DGQA, Lt Gen Arvind Kumar, DGMF, Lt Gen RS Shahrawat, DGOS, Maj Gen Thomas Mathew, GOC Delhi Area, Maj Gen VC Jain, Commander Base Workshop Group EME and many other senior officers of Army Headquarters were present on the occasion. The tanks have been received by 87 Armoured Regiment.

Vajra Corps has taken yet another step towards the welfare of ex-servicemen. A CSD canteen has been inaugurated at Shahkot by Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, GOC, 11 Corps. He handed over the responsibility of smooth functioning of the canteen to 55 (Independent) Mechanised Brigade. In due course seven ex-servicemen would be employed to run the canteen.

War veterans and war widows were also felicitated on this occasion. Ex-servicemen of the region came in large numbers to attend the ceremony.

In a colourful inauguration ceremony, an agricultural track was dedicated to the people of Rubunamai by 59 Mountain Brigade. Brig VK Batura, Commander, 59 Mountain Brigade, declared the track open. An Army dozer sanctioned by Brig VK Batura constructed a 7.5 km-long and circuitous track, joining the village to paddy fields. The track was completed in twenty-one days, which symbolised the cooperation between villagers and Army jawans.

‘Siramani Cycle Expedition’ was flagged off by Maj Gen Ashok Samantharay, General Officer Comman-ding Panther Division at Katoch Stadium, Jalandhar Cantonment. The expedition was led by Lt Karan Singh and comprised one junior commissioned officer and eight other ranks. The cycle expedition followed the route Jalandhar Cantonment to Una-Nangal-Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi-Bhakhra Dam-Hamirpur-Gagret and Hoshiarpur. The five-day expedition traversed 170 kilometres and trekked 30 kilometres in interior hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh

Eastern Command Kabaddi Championship 2003-2004 was organised at Umroi Military Station. In this competition, eight teams participated, which were divided into two pools of four each. Matches were played on league-cum-knock-out basis. All teams played with immense enthusiasm and displayed spirit of sportsmanship. The final match was between 5 Mountain Division and 57 Mountain Division. The 57 Mountain Division registered its victory after a very exciting start. Brig AK Arora, Commander, 24 Mountain Brigade distributed prizes. Inspite of heavy rains the ground was well preserved for the matches by the conduction unit, 15 Maratha Light Infantry.

The 58 Gorkha Training Centre, Shillong handball team lifted the 101 Area Handball Championship Trohpy 2003-2004. In the finals, played at the Gaje Ghale ground the host team dominated the game and defeated Assam Regimental Centre by 29 goals to 7.

Altogether five teams participated in the championship. This year eight players were selected from 58 GTC to represent 101 Area team in the Command Handball Championship.