Indian Army Honours Veterans Driving Change Beyond Service
In a heartening recognition of continued service beyond uniform, the Indian Army conferred the prestigious ‘Veteran Achievers Award’ on three exemplary former servicemen during the Retiring Officers Seminar held in the capital. Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi presented the honours, celebrating the veterans' exceptional contributions to society.
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| Image Source: Indian Army on X |
The awardees — Colonel Christopher Rego (Retd), Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Singh Rana (Retd), and Havildar Khirod Kumar Jena (Retd) — were recognised for their post-retirement service in the fields of education, community welfare, and environmental conservation.
Colonel Rego, founder of the Sunbird Trust, was lauded for transforming education access and social development in Northeast India. Since 2016, his initiative has supported over 49,000 students and collaborated with government and armed forces in 2024, impacting more than 390,000 lives. An Ashoka Fellow, his work promotes harmony and opportunity in underprivileged communities.
Lieutenant Colonel Rana, a relentless advocate for veterans’ welfare, co-founded the Smile Foundation, runs a grievance help desk for ex-servicemen in Himachal Pradesh, and established the Career Point Academy for free armed forces training. His monthly community meals and active flood relief efforts further underscore his humanitarian spirit.
Havildar Jena, a green warrior in Odisha, has used his pension to plant over 30,000 fruit trees, with a goal of one lakh. He installed borewells and mobilised fellow veterans and locals in large-scale reforestation and habitat conservation projects to restore wildlife and ecological balance.
Honouring their spirit of “Service is a Lifelong Journey,” the Indian Army reaffirmed its belief that national service does not end with retirement, but continues in building a stronger and more united India.
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