The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, visited the Sainya Sampark Mela – Sadaiv Aapke Saath in Deoghar, Jharkhand, today. The Mela was organised by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Deoghar District Administration to provide welfare services and grievance redressal facilities to ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their dependents across the Santhal Pargana region.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President paid tribute to the veterans and Veer Naris for their invaluable sacrifices and contributions to the Nation. Describing veterans as an important national resource, he said that their experience could guide the youth and their leadership could contribute significantly to nation-building. Saluting the Veer Naris, he observed that behind every soldier serving at the border stands a family that shares the sacrifices and responsibilities of military service. He emphasised that the Nation could never forget the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families.
Recalling his tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, the Vice-President highlighted the State’s proud tradition of service to the Nation. He paid tribute to Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance Naik Albert Ekka and recalled the contributions of tribal freedom fighters, including Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu and Kanhu, and Nilambar and Pitambar. He said that the spirit of patriotism and national service continued to inspire the people of Jharkhand.
The Vice-President highlighted the fulfilment of the long-standing demand for One Rank, One Pension under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and referred to various welfare initiatives undertaken for veterans and Veer Naris. Appreciating the single-window mechanism at the Mela, he said that bringing pension-related assistance, medical facilities, documentation services and grievance redressal under one platform was a meaningful example of last-mile delivery.
Emphasising the importance of coordinated public service, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that the participation of the Armed Forces, civil administration, financial institutions, healthcare providers and welfare agencies reflected a shared commitment to serving those who had served the Nation. He called for the theme “Sadaiv Aapke Saath” (Always with You) to become a continuing national commitment, ensuring that veterans and their families always felt respected, supported and cared for.
During the visit, the Vice-President toured various stalls at the Sainya Sampark Mela, including displays of weapons and military equipment, disaster relief facilities, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) services, medical screening and blood donation camps, women’s health awareness initiatives, NCC activities and pension-related services. He also interacted with veterans, beneficiaries and other people attending the Mela.
The Vice-President congratulated the Indian Army and the Deoghar District Administration for organising the initiative and appreciated the efforts of Member of Parliament Dr. Nishikant Dubey. He also thanked the participating institutions and agencies for their contributions towards the welfare of the Armed Forces community.
The event was attended by the Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar; Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav; Members of Parliament Dr. Nishikant Dubey and Shri Aditya Sahu; General Officer Commanding, 111 Area, Lt. Gen. Pawan Chadha; Chairperson of Baba Baidyanath Medical Trust, Ms. Anamika Gautam; senior officers of the Indian Army, officials of the civil administration, veterans, Veer Naris and their families.
