After bribe revelations, Army chief talks about army welfare

Gurgaon (Haryana), March 31 (IANS) After causing a storm in military and political circles at the beginning of the week with his revelations about receiving a bribe offer, Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh Saturday said he had already explained his experience and stand on various issues to the nation and he would keep working for the betterment of the army.

'I am committed to work for the serving and ex-servicemen of the Indian armed forces,' said General Singh, while speaking at a function in Tau Devi Lal stadium here, organised by the Indian Ex-servicemen League.

General Singh also said that it is very necessary to provide the best equipment to soldiers. 'A majority of retired soldiers live in rural areas. Looking at the problems at the CSD canteen's services, we have already moved a procedure to open such canteens in rural areas,' Singh said at the occasion.

The army chief also launched the 'Emergency Alert Mobile Service' for retired soldiers. The SMS (Short Message Service) will provide help to retired officers across the country, during tough times. After registering one's mobile number with the welfare boards, it would be fed in the special server at headquarters. It will help the service user during accident, attack by anti-social elements, regarding pension and even CSD canteen problems.

At the function, Gen. V.K. Singh honoured more than one hundred war widows from Delhi and Haryana. Prior to that, the president of Indian Ex-servicemen League, Brigadier (retd) Ram Karn Singh Gulia explained to the army chief the problems faced by ex-servicemen in day-to-day life.