Leh/Ladakh
The Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi conferred the prestigious Veteran Achievers Awards (VAA) on five distinguished military veterans during his recent visit to the Fire & Fury Corps headquarters. The recognition celebrates their outstanding post-retirement contributions to veterans’ welfare, healthcare, community development, and nation-building in the strategically vital Ladakh region.
Keywords: – Veteran Achievers Award Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi Fire and Fury Corps, Ladakh Veterans Welfare Awards, Indian Army honours veterans Ladakh, COAS Upendra Dwivedi Veteran Achievers, Ex-Servicemen contributions Ladakh, Nation Building Ladakh Veterans
The awardees include Col Tondup Wangail (Retd), Major Rinchen Dolma Kolto (Retd), noted as one of the pioneering women officers from Ladakh, Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Sonam Morup (Retd), Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Tashi Chhepal, VrC (Retd), and Naik Ghulam Haider (Retd). Their collective efforts have delivered tangible impact on the ground.
Through selfless initiatives, these veterans have transformed healthcare delivery in remote Ladakh villages, expanded outreach programmes for Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naris (war widows), promoted skill development for self-reliance, secured land rights and welfare measures for veteran families, and strengthened community support systems. Many have also provided dedicated assistance to veterans requiring specialised medical care, often bridging gaps in far-flung areas where civilian infrastructure remains limited.
Gen Dwivedi, while presenting the awards, emphasised that “Service is a lifelong journey.” He lauded the recipients for embodying Army’s values of duty, compassion, and leadership long after hanging up their uniforms. The COAS interacted with veterans and serving personnel, reviewing operational preparedness while underscoring the critical role of ex-servicemen in fostering civil-military synergy and national integration in border regions.
A Continuing Legacy of Service
This initiative reflects the Army’s commitment to honouring not just gallantry in uniform but sustained contributions to society. In high-altitude terrains like Ladakh, where harsh conditions test human endurance daily, the veterans’ work in healthcare, education, and empowerment assumes even greater significance. Their efforts help build resilient communities that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the forces guarding India’s frontiers.
By instituting the VAA, the Army reinforces a powerful message: the spirit of service does not retire. These veterans continue to serve as role models, inspiring younger generations to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
In an era of complex security challenges, such recognition strengthens the bond between the Armed Forces, veterans, and citizens, a vital pillar of India’s comprehensive national power.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
