Imphal: The Indian Army organised an Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rally 2026 at Karong Ground in Manipur’s Senapati on Friday as part of its ongoing efforts to support and engage with veterans and their families.
The rally, organised by the Spear Corps, brought together former personnel of the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles, along with Veer Naris and dependents from across the region.
The event served as an outreach platform to address the concerns of ex-servicemen while facilitating access to welfare and administrative services.
Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding of Spear Corps, attended the rally as the chief guest. Major General Shubhankar Basu, General Officer Commanding of the Red Shield Division, was also present on the occasion. Their presence reaffirmed the Army’s enduring bond with its former soldiers and their dependents.
Around 850 people participated in the rally, including 325 ex-servicemen from the Indian Army and 230 from the Assam Rifles. The gathering also included 153 widows and 142 dependents, among them 13 Veer Naris and two Veer Matas.
The rally, held under the theme “Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future”, provided a single-window platform to address grievances, facilitate access to welfare and administrative services, and further strengthen the relationship between the Army and its veterans.
The programme featured interaction sessions with senior officers, awareness briefings on various welfare schemes, cultural performances by local Manipuri artistes, community engagement activities, and the felicitation of distinguished veterans, Veer Naris and their families in recognition of their valuable contributions.
Various support services were provided at the venue, including grievance redressal cells, a medical camp and assistance counters for SPARSH pension system and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.
Desks from the Rajya Sainik Board and Zila Sainik Board, along with representatives from PCDA Guwahati, Army Recruiting Office support teams, and CSD services, were also available.
In addition, major banks, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank and IDBI Bank set up assistance counters to provide financial guidance and services to the attendees.
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Veterans and their families actively participated in the event and availed themselves of the various services offered. The successful organisation of the rally reaffirmed the Indian Army’s commitment to supporting its veterans and recognising their lifelong service and sacrifices for the nation.
