2020 1-15 February Vol 67 No 3 ` 5 SAINIK Samachar Republic Day 2020 pic: DPR Photo Division Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, at Rajghat, in Delhi on January 30, 2020. pic: DPR Photo Division Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Satinder Kumar Saini paying homage to the martyrs, at the National War Memorial, in New Delhi on January 28, 2020. In This Issue Since 1909 BIRTHPresident's ANNIVERSARY Address CELEBRATIONS on the 4 71st Republic Day (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 67 q No 3 12 - 26 Magha 1941 (Saka) 1-15 February 2020 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Ruby Thinda Sharma Senior Editor Manoj Tuli Sub Editors Sub Maj KC Sahu Republic Day Celebrations 6 Prime Minister addresses 11 Sub Maj Baiju G 2020 the NCC Rally Coordination Kunal Kumar Business Manager Dhirendra Kumar Our Correspondents DELHI: Col Aman Anand; Gp Capt Anupam Banerjee; Cdr Vivek Madhwal; Nampibou Marinmai; Divyanshu Kumar; Savvy Hasan Khan; Michael JS; Azhagudurai; BENGALURU: Guru Prasad HL; CHANDIGARH: Anil Gaur; CHENNAI: M Ponnein Selvan; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Puneet Chadha; GUWAHATI: Lt Col P Khongsai; IMPHAL: Lt Col M Vaishnava; JALANDHAR : Gagandeep Kaur; JAMMU: Lt Col Devender Anand; JAIPUR: Lt Col Sombit Ghosh; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier; KOHIMA: Lt Col SK Sharma; KOLKATA: Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Mehul Karnik, Himanshu Singh; NAGPUR: Gp Capt BB Pande; PALAM: Gp Capt Anupam Banerjee (Offg.); PRAYAGRAJ: Gp Capt BB Pande 14 NCC contributes to nation building… (Offg.); PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: G Surendra Babu; SHILLONG; Wg Cdr Ratnakar Singh; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col Harsh 15 RRM Compliments Cadets for their… Wardhan Pande; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ms Dhanya Sanal K; UDHAMPUR: Lt 16 The COAS urges cadets to become… RM gives away awards12 Col Abhinav Navneet; VISAKHAPATNAM: Capt CG Raju. 17 Committed towards Character… to RD Participants 18 Glimpses of Beating the Retreat at… Published by: 20 Veterans’ day Celebrations A Bharat Bhushan Babu, ADG (M&C) 21 Lt Gen Satinder Kumar Saini… S Subramanian, Director (PR) 22 Education Assistance to Wards and… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, 24 Interview | Coast Guard Day Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 27 Joint Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’… Editorial Office: 28 Review of Construction of Indigenous L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, 29 CGDA Inaugurates Accounts Office… Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 30 Induction of 222 Squadron at Air Force Email : [email protected] 31 409 Gallantry and other Defence… E-in-C: ASCON-32078 For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 RM Flags off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas 23 (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number On front cover: Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath on January 26, 2020. For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in Follow us on: www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD https://www.instagram.com/prodefense/ President's Address on the 71st Republic Day Dear fellow citizens, the internal security system. On the eve of our 71st Republic Access to health and education Day, I extend my warm greetings to all are often considered the foundation of you, in India and abroad. of good governance. In both these Seven decades ago, on 26th sectors, we have come a long January, our Constitution came into way in the seven decades. The effect. Even before that, this date had Government has rightly focused its acquired special significance. Having attention on the health sector, with its resolved to attain ‘Purna Swaraj’, our ambitious initiatives. Starting with the people had been celebrating ‘Purna Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, programmes his own, making them and expanding to the Ayushman Swaraj Day’ on every 26th January truly effective. The success of the from 1930 to 1947. That is why, Bharat, which is the world’s largest ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ is publicly funded universal healthcare in 1950 we embarked our journey a matter of pride, as the target of 8 as a Republic on the 26th January, programme, the Government has crore beneficiaries has been achieved. shown its care and concern for the affirming to the principles laid down With this, those in need have access in our Constitution. Since then, every well-being of the poor. Quality of to clean fuel. The ‘Pradhan Mantri healthcare has improved, so has its year we celebrate our Republic Day Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’, that on 26th January. reach. The Jan Aushadhi Yojana has is, ‘Saubhagya’ too has brightened brought down the healthcare budget The modern State comprises the people’s lives. Under ‘Pradhanmantri of common people in the country by three organs – Legislature, Executive Kisan Samman Nidhi’, more than 14 providing quality generic medicines at and Judiciary, which are necessarily crore farmer families have become affordable prices. interlinked and interdependent. Yet, entitled to receive minimum annual on ground, the people comprise the income of Rupees six thousand. This Dear fellow citizens, State. ‘We the People’ are the prime has enabled the farmers who feed us The foundations of a sound movers of the Republic. With us, the to live a life of dignity. education system were built in people of India rests the real power to To effectively meet the challenge ancient times, with the setting up of decide our collective future. of the increasing water crisis, the great universities like Nalanda and Our Constitution gave us rights Ministry of Jalshakti has been Takshashila. In India, knowledge as citizens of a free democratic created. Water conservation and has always been considered more nation, but also placed on us the water management are being given valuable than power, fame or riches. In responsibility to always adhere to the top priority. I am confident that, like our tradition, educational institutions central tenets of our democracy – ‘Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Jal are respected as temples of learning. justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Jeevan Mission’ too will take the form When our land was pushed into It becomes easier for us to follow these of a popular movement. backwardness after the long colonial constitutional ideals, if we keep in Along with the welfare of those rule, it was education that emerged as mind the life and values of the Father most in need, every policy initiative a path to empowerment. Even though of our Nation. By doing so, we will be of the Government is guided by the the development of our educational adding a meaningful dimension to our ‘nation-first’ principle. The roll-out institutions commenced soon after celebrations of 150th birth anniversary of the GST has realised our vision of Independence, in an environment of Gandhiji. ‘One country, One tax, One market’. It of scarcity of resources, our is being complemented by the e-NAM achievements in the field of education Dear fellow citizens, scheme, which is strengthening the have followed a remarkable trajectory. The Government has launched process of creating ‘one market for one Our endeavour is to ensure that no a number of welfare campaigns, and nation’ and will benefit farmers. There child or youth is denied education. what is especially noteworthy about is a consistent effort by the government At the same time, we need to strive to them is the fact that citizens have to ensure overall development of each reach global education standards by voluntarily turned them into popular and every part of the country – be it continuous reform of our educational movements. The ‘Swachchh Bharat Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, the systems. Abhiyan’ has achieved astounding states in the North-East or our Islands India is proud of the achievements success in such a short time. The same in the Indian Ocean. of ISRO. They are making further spirit can be seen in other endeavours. Strong internal security is essential progress in Mission Gaganyaan, and Be it giving up cooking fuel subsidy or for the development of the country. the nation excitedly looks forward to the pushing digital payments, the common Therefore, the government has taken Indian Human Spaceflight Programme man has made the government several concrete steps to strengthen gaining further momentum this year. 4 Sainik Samachar February 1-15, 2020 This is also the year of Tokyo example, SushriAarifa Jan has revived gave to humanity. Gandhiji’s talisman Olympics. While India has traditionally the Numdha handicrafts in Jammu & for deciding whether an act is right or done well in a number of sports, the Kashmir; Sushri Ratnawali Kottapalli wrong also applies to the functioning new generation of players and athletes has been serving patients suffering of our democracy. Government and has brought laurels for the nation in from thalassemia in Telangana; opposition both have important roles more and more varieties of sports in Shrimati Devaki Amma has developed to play. While giving expression to recent years. At Olympics 2020, the forest wealth through her individual their political ideas, both must move Indian contingent will be backed by efforts in Kerala; Shri Jamkhojang forward in tandem to ensure that cheers and good wishes of millions of Misao has improved the lives of development of the country and Indians. many people through his community welfare of its people are promoted Another source of pride for our development efforts in Manipur and consistently.