The Indian Army organised the Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rally 2026 at Karong Ground in Senapati on Friday as part of its continued commitment to the welfare and well-being of veterans.
The rally, conducted by the Spear Corps, brought together veterans of the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles, providing a comprehensive outreach platform for ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their families from across the region.
The event was attended by Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding of Spear Corps, as the Chief Guest. Major General Shubhankar Basu, General Officer Commanding of Red Shield Division, also attended the programme. Their presence highlighted the Army’s enduring bond with its former soldiers and their dependents.
A total of 850 participants attended the rally, including 325 Army ex-servicemen and 230 ex-servicemen from Assam Rifles. The gathering also included 153 widows and 142 dependents, among them 13 Veer Naris and two Veer Mata, reflecting strong participation from the veteran community.
The rally, held under the theme “Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” served as a single-window platform to address grievances, provide access to welfare and administrative services, and strengthen ties between the Army and its veterans. The programme featured interaction sessions with senior officers, awareness briefings on welfare schemes, cultural performances by local Manipuri artists, community engagement activities, and felicitation of distinguished veterans, Veer Naris and their families.
Various service counters were set up at the venue, including grievance redressal cells, a medical camp, assistance desks for SPARSH and ECHS, Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards, PCDA (Guwahati), ARO support and CSD services.
Representatives from leading banks such as State Bank of India, HDFC Bank and IDBI Bank were also present to assist attendees.
Ex-servicemen, Veer Naris and their families actively participated in the rally and availed themselves of the services and facilities provided. The successful conduct of the event reaffirmed the Indian Army’s respect for its veterans and its continued commitment to honouring their service, sacrifice and lifelong contribution to the nation.
