Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 2

The Ministry of Defence has mobilised retired personnel of the armed forces to carry out some tasks in the fight against Covid. Also the services of the National Cadet Corps have been okayed.

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the MoD has taken the initiative to mobilise services of ex-servicemen community as a part of augmentation of human resource to assist the state and district administration.

The retired armed forces personnel — some 26 lakh — remain connected with their regiments, squadrons, ship-mates and course mates. Also uniquely, only retired servicemen have a dedicated department for their welfare.

Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards are playing a dynamic role in identifying and mobilising maximum ESM volunteers to assist the state and district administration in performing public outreach activities such as contact tracing, community surveillance, management of quarantine facilities or any such tasks assigned to them.

The ESM are disciplined, motivated and well trained to operate in adverse situations and they have pan-India presence in all districts and villages across the country.

In Punjab, an organisation, called ‘Guardians of Governance’, comprising 4,200 ESM is assisting in data collection from all the villages.

The Chhattisgarh Government has employed some ESM to assist the police. Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, all District Collectors have asked for ESM volunteers.

NCC cadets to help in relief efforts

• The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has extended the services of cadets — above 18 years of age — to augment relief efforts and functioning of various agencies involved in battling Covid
• The tasks envisaged for NCC cadets include manning of helpline, call centres, distribution of relief material, medicines, food, essential commodities, community assistance, data management and traffic management