The Veterans’ Club of Odisha, a body of ex-Servicemen, held its second annual general meeting here on Sunday.
While Veteran Nitaigour Dhal inaugurated the programme, club president Bidyadhar Nayak over the meeting.
Dhal highlighted about plans of the club which includes land acquisition, preparation of blue print for the proposed ‘war memorial’, establishment of training centre for veterans, a centre for natural disaster management and a swimming pool.
Nayak spoke on objective of the club. He said the club will extend 100 per cent support to the Union and State Governments in resolving various problems. The club is dedicated to create a sense of nationalism among people and ensure respect to Army personnel deployed at the border and respectful living of ex-Servicemen in the society.
Plaques containing names of martyrs, who had laid lives for the nation since the First World War will be installed at the proposed War Memorial. The club would promote heroic acts of Odisha at the national level. Nayak sought support of the State Government in this regard.
Club general secretary Bibhuprasad Swain read out the annual report. He informed about the club’s contribution of Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as Cyclone Fani assistance and Rs 1.35 lakh each to the family of two marine officers, who were martyred recently.
Twenty-one Veterans enrolled as new members of the club on the occasion. Of them, two senior Navy officers Janaki Prasad Patnaik and Jagat Patnaik were enrolled as sponsoring members. Veteran Dhal welcomed all new members with flower bouquets.
Veteran Saroj Kumar Rath took charge as new general secretary of the club.
The meeting came to an end with a vote of thanks proposed by Veteran Samarendra Parija.
Among others, Veterans Bimal Prasad Barik, Ajay Kumar Nayak, Haraprasad Dora, Bishnuprasad Dash, Antaryami Dash, Dinabandhu Sarangi, Captain Rabindra Kumar Patnaik, Rabindra Kumar Sahu, Jagat Patnaik, Gopinath Mishra, Manoj Kumar Senapati and Mrutyunjay Mohapatra were present.