An Assam Rifles team will conduct a statewide outreach programme in Kerala from 6 to 22 January to address grievances and provide welfare support to former personnel and their families. The initiative, launched under the direction of the Director General of Assam Rifles, targets ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, sick and bedridden veterans, widows and dependents.
Assam Rifles outreach drive Kerala: schedule and services
The outreach schedule begins in Kozhikode on 7 January at 10 a.m. at the Sainik Welfare Hall. Following Kozhikode, the team will visit Palakkad on 9 January, Thrissur on 11 January, Kottayam on 13 January, Alappuzha on 15 January, Adoor on 16 January, Kollam on 18 January and Thiruvananthapuram on 20 January. The wider outreach window is from 6 to 22 January, during which visits will be made to multiple stations across the State.
The visiting contingent comprises five officers, three Junior Commissioned Officers and two Non-Commissioned Officers. They will offer grievance redressal services and assess needs on site. Where appropriate, assistive devices such as hearing aids, walking sticks and wheelchairs will be distributed to beneficiaries to improve mobility and quality of life.
Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, Director General of Assam Rifles, is scheduled to visit Adoor on 16 January to meet beneficiaries and address attendees. His participation underlines the force’s priority on welfare measures for those who served and their families.
Practical help and local coordination
The outreach teams will coordinate with local veterans’ associations and community organisations to ensure those in need are reached. Beneficiaries are encouraged to bring relevant service records or identity documents to facilitate verification and expedite assistance. The Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Association (ARESA) in Kozhikode has been identified as a point of contact for queries and local coordination.
Officials have emphasised that the drive is intended to be accessible and responsive. Teams will carry out on-the-spot assessments and provide immediate relief where possible. For more complex cases, follow-up support and referrals will be arranged to appropriate medical or social services.
Who can attend and how to get information
The programme is open to Assam Rifles ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, widows, dependent family members and those who are sick or bedridden. To confirm eligibility or to raise specific queries ahead of the visits, beneficiaries may contact the Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Association (ARESA), Kozhikode at 9847007230 or 9495723421.
By taking services to the districts, the Assam Rifles intends to reduce travel burdens for beneficiaries and ensure that welfare support reaches peripheral communities. The outreach drive also provides an opportunity for former personnel to raise unresolved grievances directly with representatives of the force.
The visits form part of a broader effort by the Assam Rifles to maintain ties with its veterans and to ensure their needs are addressed promptly and professionally. Local authorities and veterans’ groups are expected to assist in mobilising eligible beneficiaries ahead of the scheduled dates.
Key Takeaways:
- Assam Rifles outreach drive Kerala will run across multiple stations from 6 to 22 January to address grievances of ex-servicemen and dependents.
- The team will distribute assistive devices including hearing aids, walking sticks and wheelchairs to needy beneficiaries.
- Director General Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera will visit Adoor on 16 January to address beneficiaries.
