The Armed Forces
Flag Day was observed today. To mark the occasion, flags were
pinned on the President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, Vice President Shri
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee,
Deputy Prime Minister Shri LK Advani and the Defence Minister
Shri George Fernandes here today.
The Armed
Forces Flag Day has been observed. By displaying Armed Forces
Flag, the citizenry reinforced their solidarity with the Armed
Forces for what they do for the nation. This has assured the Defence
personnel that the entire nation is behind them.
Today
they expressed their gratitude and appreciation by contributing
to the "Armed Forces Flag Day Fund" to honour the brave
and the martyr for their supreme sacrifice, as well as to salute
the valiant soldiers, sailors and airmen, both serving and veterans.
This
fund is utilized for a number of welfare programs instituted by
the ‘Kendriya Sainik Board’ at the Centre and ‘Rajya Sainik Boards’
at State level, for the benefit and empowerment of widows, disabled
soldiers, sailors, airmen, ex-servicemen and their dependents
and also for serving personnel. The total clientele of
the above categories is over a crore. To make these welfare programmes
meaningful it requires generous voluntary participation and magnum
support from one and all
round the year. During the year 2001-2002, the above programs
required investment of over eight crores by Kendriya Sainik Board
at centre alone.
The President,
the Vice President, the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the
Minister of State for Defence conveyed their best wishes to the
serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and their families
on the occasion and appealed to the people to contribute generously
to the Flag Day fund.
