The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : MEG extends initiatives for its retired personnel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

MEG extends initiatives for its retired personnel

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Madras Engineer Group & Centre (MEG) has initiated interactions with the manpower-starved construction industry to help its retired personnel and families of personnel who died in service get gainful employment in technical fields.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Lt. Gen. K.S.S. Rao from the Madras Sappers said MEG’s focus had shifted from mere security services to other vocations too. “Being from the Engineers, all our men are trained in the technical field. We hope that the nation also benefits from this highly sincere, disciplined, skilled and experienced work force,” he said.

He appealed to business houses to provide retiring servicemen, in the age group of 40 to 45 years, with employment opportunities and in turn gain from their expertise.

Shortage

To a question on the recruitment problems for the Army, Lt. Gen. Rao said the shortage was limited only to officers. There was a shortage of about 10,000 officers, and he expressed confidence that this problem could be solved.

He said the Madras Sappers were an integral part of rehabilitation and rebuilding processes, since they have been involved in operations during natural disasters and maintenance of law and order. MEG, he said, had also adopted four boys whose families were wiped away in the 2004 tsunami. “Today, after almost two years, these children have adapted themselves very well and are performing extremely well in their studies,” he said. MEG also plans to establish a hostel for girls. “The modalities are being discussed. This will go a long way in improving the living and education standards of the families of the Madras Sappers,” he noted.

Cycle expedition

As part of the Biennial Regimental Commanders’ Conference (BRCC), MEG had organised a cycle expedition “Thambi Udhar III,” in which four teams comprising four officers, four Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and 65 ORs participated.

The teams covered a distance of almost 2,700 km, travelling through Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. During their journey, the expedition participants interacted with ex-servicemen and their families.

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