Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), April 18– Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi met with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Samatva Bhavan in the Chief Minister’s residence on Friday. Accompanied by Lieutenant General P.P. Singh and Major General Sumit, the Army Chief presented a Radha Krishna statue as a token of goodwill during the visit.
Earlier, on Thursday, General Dwivedi attended the ‘Veteran Achievers Award’ ceremony held in Bhopal, recognizing the continued service and societal contributions of retired military personnel.
Five veterans were honoured:
- Brigadier Ramnarayan Vinayak, VSM (Retd) – A passionate advocate for ex-servicemen, he founded a DGR-sponsored security agency employing 300+ veterans and worked to extend ECHS benefits to Veer Naris of the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars. He also conducts educational outreach with his wife at Shaurya Smarak.
- Colonel Vaibhav Prakash Tripathi (Retd.) – Serving as Vice President of the MP Ex-Servicemen League, he runs the Ojas Shikshan evam Prashikshan Sansthan in Betul, offering training for tribal youth aiming to join the armed forces.
- Colonel K. P. Singh (Retd.) – Known for legal support to veterans and widows, he aids in resolving SPARSH and pension issues, provides free SSB guidance, and supports charities for the elderly and differently abled.
- Naik Anil Kumar Verma (Retd.) – Transformed his ancestral home into a girls’ hostel and founded a school for underprivileged tribal children in Bilaspur, earning acclaim for academic excellence and community service.
- Lance Dafadar Pradeep Kalaskar (Retd.) – Honoured for rescuing five individuals from a fire and planting over 1,000 trees, he actively supports fellow veterans in resolving pension and financial issues.
These awards highlighted the Indian Army’s commitment to honouring its veterans and recognizing their ongoing role in nation-building.