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Headquarters Eastern Command launched a 24x7 veteran helpline ‘VEcare 1904’ at Fort William today, which was inaugurated by Gen Shankar Roy Chowdhury (Retired), former Chief of the Army Staff, amidst a large number of serving and retired soldiers. Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, GOC-in-C Eastern Command, said the facility was in continuation of the Chief of the Army Staff’s focus on ‘Welfare of Ex-servicemen and Veer Naris’. Post launch of Directorate of Indian Army Veterans in January this year at New Delhi, the VEcare service is a new initiative for veterans and serving personnel of all three services. It would be particularly of immense help to individuals in distress and requiring immediate medical help. The facility will soon be extended to other stations of Eastern Command.

VEcare service can be availed from landline or mobile by simply dialing 1904. To a registered mobile user, it will provide automated voice guidance for medical emergency assistance including immediate dispatch of an ambulance, queries related to medical facilities and appointments at ECHS/ Command Hospital, CSD related value addition services and facilitate connectivity to Army telephone numbers. The Army Commander further stated that, an endeavour was underway to populate the data of all the veterans whereafter the software driven initiative would be fully exploited. The helpline facility is being seen as a major initiative towards veterans’ welfare.

Col Rohan Anand, SM
PRO (Army)