Since 1949, the 7th of December has been honored as Armed Forces Flag Day across the nation to remember the martyrs and uniformed soldiers who heroically defended the country’s honor on its frontiers. There is no nobler purpose than sacrificing one’s life for one’s country. At the same time, our love for the martyrs should not imply that we have little regard for the living heroes who were injured while performing their patriotic duty or for the widows and children they left behind.
In the course of gaining triumphs in the nation’s many conflicts and the ongoing fight against cross-border terrorism and insurgency, our Armed Forces have lost and continue to lose important lives and have left a significant number of individuals disabled. It is difficult to comprehend the trauma that the family endures with the death of the family patriarch.
Our crippled men deserve care and rehabilitation so that they do not become a financial burden on their families and can instead live a dignified life. In addition, some Ex-servicemen are afflicted with major illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and joint replacement, among others, and cannot pay for the expensive therapy. Consequently, they too require our care and assistance.
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The need to maintain a youthful Armed Forces mandates the release of our service members between the ages of 35 and 40, when they are still young, physically strong, and possessing attributes of discipline, determination, and leadership. Approximately 600,000 military people are required to retire annually. Care for these former troops and their families is a national obligation.
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Numerous valiant and courageous warriors from the Armed forces have sacrificed their lives for the country. Moreover, ongoing counterinsurgency operations have left numerous fractured families without a breadwinner. Flag Day highlights our duty to care for our disabled comrades-in-arms, widows, and dependents of those who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Armed Forces Flag Day is observed for the aforementioned reasons. On this day, the services of Army, Navy, and Air Force troops are remembered. Every citizen must ensure the rehabilitation and well-being of the dependents of our valiant martyrs and disabled personnel. Flag Day allows us to make significant contributions to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
On this day, a deliberate attempt is made to collect donations from the public. Through electronic and printed media, the significance of the Day is conveyed. In some locations, Armed Forces formations and units host a variety of performances, carnivals, plays, and other forms of entertainment. The Kendriya Sainik Board distributes flags and car stickers in red, deep blue, and light colors, representing the three Services, to the general population around the nation.
Role of Citizenry
Government initiatives at the federal and state levels are insufficient to assist disabled, non-pensioner, elderly, and infirm ESM, their families, war widows, and orphans. It is therefore the communal responsibility of every citizen to provide an unreserved and voluntary commitment to their care, support, rehabilitation, and financial assistance. The welfare programs funded by the collective contribution are detailed in the following paragraphs.
Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF)
Kendriya Sainik Board is accountable for the management of AFFDF. The AFFDF is administered by a Managing Committee led by the Honorable Raksha Mantri at the Central level and the Honorable Governor / Lt Governor at the State / UT level. Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), an apex body of the Government of India, formulates and operates various welfare and rehabilitation schemes for Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and their dependents via a network of Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) co-located in the State Capitals and District Headquarters respectively, across the country.
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These welfare programs are supported by the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF), which was established by Gazette of India notice No. 5(1) /92/US(WE)/D (Res) dated April 13, 1993, by combining the following into a single fund known as the “Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
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- Armed Forces Flag Day Fund St. Dunstan’s (India) and Kendriya Sainik Board Fund
- Indian Gorkha Veterans’ Welfare Fund.
- Kendriya Sainik Board administers AFFDF
which is used to provide financial support to deserving Ex-Servicemen, War widows, and their Dependents; and Institutions involved in the rehabilitation of the Ex-Servicemen, War widows, and their Dependents. The Armed Forces Flag Day Fund is administered by the Managing Committee, whose Chairman is the Honorable Raksha Mantri, Vice Chairman is the Honorable Raksha Rajya Mantri, and members include three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary, the Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare/MoD, and other senior Central Govt officials.
Fund Collection
Local branches of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), which falls under the Ministry of Defense, oversee the collection of funds around the nation. The collection is organized through both official and non-official channels by means of non-profit organizations.
Even though the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependents is a joint duty of the federal government, state governments, and Union Territories (UTs), the majority of problems must be managed by the States and UTs alone. Similar to the central Kendriya Sainik Board, the Rajya / Zila Sainik Boards are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of resettlement and welfare initiatives for ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents resident in their respective States / UTs / Districts. There are 32 Rajya Sainik Boards and 392 Zila Sainik Boards throughout the country to assist the Central Government in this regard. (Reference needed)
The Secretary KSB advises the Department of Sainik Welfare in the States / UTs on policies for resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen, widows, and requests reports from the Director, Department Sainik Welfare / Secretary RSB and Zila Sainik Welfare Officer / Secretary ZSB, on implementation of policies and success in resettling ex-servicemen, widows, disabled personnel invalidated out of the Service, and their dependents.
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Advisory services are also provided for the welfare programs required by the clientele, which are funded by money allocated by the State/UT Governments and the Amalgamated Special Funds. The Fund is administered by a Managing Committee chaired by the Defence Minister at the center and by the chief executive officers of the governments of the States and Union Territories.
When the Armed Forces Flag Day program was implemented, the fund allocation was regulated so that the Central KSB headquarters receives just a small portion of the Flag Day Fund contributions collected by each state. The KSB is allocated only one-half paisa for every inhabitant in the state.
Why Do We Commemorate Armed Forces Flag Day?
Since 1949, the 7th of December has been observed as Armed Forces Flag Day across the nation to honor the martyrs and uniformed men who valiantly defended the country’s honor on its borders. There is no nobler purpose than sacrificing one’s life for one’s country.
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How Do the Indian Military Commemorate Flag Day?
In some locations, Armed Forces formations and units host a variety of performances, carnivals, plays, and other forms of entertainment. In exchange for donations, red, deep blue, and light blue tiny flags and automobile flags representing the three Services are distributed nationwide.
Which Day is India’s National Flag Day?
On Flag Day of India, December 7, real-life heroes of the Indian Armed Forces are honored annually.
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