The Indian armed forces – the army, the navy and the air force – are among the most respected institutions in the country; honoured and cherished for their bravery, discipline, dedication to the nation, largely non-corrupt work ethic, secular credentials and commitment to the constitution. As such the armed forces Flag Day is something we should all be aware of.
Since 1949, 7th December has been observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day in India. It is a day meant to commemorate India’s soldiers, sailors and air warriors.
The aim of the Flag Day is not only to honour Indian military personnel but also to raise funds for their welfare. Some of us may recall little flags being presented to us in school or college in return for a donation that we chose to make to the cause of the well-being of our men and women in uniform as well as veterans.
This year, a weeklong campaign was planned from 1st to 7th of December 2017 and is being observed as the Armed Forces Week. The aim is to raise awareness and to get funding for those who have lost their lives in armed conflicts or have become disabled, and also to help affected families. The fact that 60,000 defence personnel are compulsorily retired each year, many of them between 35 and 40 years of age is another factor that people should consider while making a donation.
Citizens can make digital payments directly to the Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat website, which is a part of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence India.
To raise awareness and show support, people have been seen wearing the flag for the duration of the Armed Forces week. It is the moral responsibility of the citizens of the country to take care of those who become disabled, as well as the bereaved families and dependents of military personnel.
The cab hire app Ola also initiated a campaign to invite participation in the Flag Day. Armed Forces Flags were distributed to the general public visiting and customers were urged to contribute to the Fund during the week-long campaign. Ola employees too have also pledged their contributions to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
Meanwhile, India’s youngest billionaire and Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma donated the princely sum of Rs 501 and strangely tweeted this as well. The reactions were swift; dripping with sarcasm. Many pointed out the personal wealth of Sharma, his acquisitions, marketing budget and more while decrying the paltry amount donated. One wondered if he was making a donation or giving alms to a beggar.
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