REACH out programme to assist ex-servicemen by 6th Battalion Sikh Light Infantry

Jalandhar, July 19, 2013: 6th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee of Raising, on October 1 this year. The Battalion was raised by Lt Col (Brig Retd) PK Nandgopal, MVC at Meerut on October 1, 1963.  Immediately on its raising, the unit played a major role in thwarting the Pakistani juggernaut in the Chhamb Sector in 1965. Having suffered heavy causalities while denting the Pakistani offensive, the Battalion regrouped immediately and was tasked with the recapture of Kalidhar Feature. The daring assault on the feature and the successful completion of the task, against all odds, earned the Battalion the Battle Honour of ‘KALIDHAR’.

The Battalion, after having earned glory in 1965 and 1971 wars, subsequently contributed immensely in combating insurgency in J&K. The unit was awarded with the prestigious J&K Governors’ Silver Salver and Unit Citations by the GOC- in-C Northern Command and Chief  of Army  Staff  in 1997 & 1998 respectively. Considering the excellent operational record, the Battalion was nominated to  serve

under the UN flag in United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to with commendable efforts it the unit was awarded with Unit Citations from the Force Commander.

To commemorate the invaluable sacrifices made by, Officers, JCOs and OR of the Battalion, in the service of nation, in last 50 years; the Battalion has undertaken a “Reach Out Programme” to attend to the concerns of all its Ex servicemen.  The arduous task of contacting each one of the 2760 ex servicemen and the war widows commenced with multiple Junior Commissioned Officer led teams, reaching out to the ex servicemen and their families at various villages in Punjab, with effect from Mar 2013. On having collated the problems being faced by them and listened to their concerns, efforts were undertaken to settle the issues by approaching the concerned authorities. The “Reach Out Programme” will culminate in an “Ex Servicemen Contact Meet” to be held, by the Battalion, at Firozepur, Jalandhar and Pathankot on July 20, July 22 and July 24, respectively, and adopting deserving old aged ex-servicemen by the Battalion. During the meet, all ex-servicemen will also be educated on various benefits and assistance available through the state and central governments. Pamphlets in Punjabi published by the Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Centre on “Post Retirement and Death Benefits” have also been distributed to increase awareness amongst ex-servicemen.