Flag Day fund: Giving back to our guards

Chennai: The Ministry of Defence has highlighted the importance of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF), that supports ex-Servicemen.

According to Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu, “The fund reflects the nation’s commitment to its soldiers, even after they retire from service. While in service, the soldiers serve the country with unflinching commitment, courage, and they are prepared even to lay down their lives for the sake of the nation. Sometimes in the line of duty, they lay down their lives or get critically disabled leaving behind young children and family to be cared for. The AFFD Fund has been set up to cater for the needs of such dependents of Ex-Servicemen”.

This year, the entire month of December is being celebrated as ‘Gaurav Maah’. It gives an opportunity to the nation to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. People and companies can contribute to this fund now.

The fund is used for the rehabilitation and welfare of Ex Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents, the next of kin of those soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty, or were rendered disabled, old, non- pensioners, widows and orphaned children, Babu said in an article. They are given financial assistance through various schemes. Under the Raksha Mantri Ex- Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) financial assistance is provided through penury grant, education grant, widow/ daughter marriage grant, disabled children grant, medical grant, house repair grant, funeral grant, orphan grant and some other grants, the report said.

Financial assistance for treatment of serious diseases is provided to a non-pensioner ESM of all ranks and widows to meet medical expenses related to treatment of approved/listed serious diseases like cancer, renal failure, knee replacement and heart surgery, etc.

The ‘Armed Forces Flag Day Fund’ (AFFDF) has been constituted by the government of India as a Trust.

Contributions to this can be remitted through the following bank accounts:

Punjab National Bank ( A/c No. 3083000100179875 IFSC Code PUNB308300, Branch Sewa Bhawan, RK Puram), State Bank of India ( A/c No. 34420400623, IFSC Code SBIN0001076 Branch RK Puram), ICICI Bank A/c No. 182401001380, IFSC Code ICIC0001824 Branch RK Puram).

These are also exempted from Income Tax, and corporate contributions are also eligible for fulfilling the CSR obligation, he said and added that this year it is hoped that people and corporates would donate even more generously for this noble cause.