Several events were organised under the guidance of Seema Negi, Chairperson, Family Welfare Organisation JAK Rifles Regimental Centre as a part of Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) Week celebrations.

 

The events included lectures on various topics like empowerment through education, vocational training of families, Family Health and hygiene, mother and child care, Improvement in Quality of Life, Habitat and quality time with families followed by conduct of quiz competitions, games, mehendi competition, drawing competition and tree plantation and blood donation camp.

 

On the concluding day of the week-long AWWA celebrations, Sushma Rana, Zonal President, AWWA HQ Madhya Bharat Area was the chief guest. She witnessed conduct of event and was visibly impressed by the talent of families. She complimented winning ladies by giving away prizes and words of encouragement. Seema Negi, Chairperson Jammu and Kashmir Rifles AWWA got a certificate of excellence award from Sushma Rana for her overall conduct of various AWWA activities in the entire central command zone. In her concluding message to the members, Zonal President Sushma Rana reiterated that ‘Asha, Vishwas and Astha’ have always been the guiding factor of all activities of Madhya Bharat Area AWWA. Our focus areas have been health, personal care, education and overall growth, women empowerment, wellness and improvement in quality of life, welfare of ex-servicemen and veer naris. She said we should empower Army wives in every possible way as there is no tool for development of society more effective than empowerment of women.

 

The Indian Army is commemorating this year as ‘Year of Next of Kin’ and plans to reach out to next of kin of battle casualties, ex-servicemen and serving soldiers to inform them of entitled financial benefits, welfare schemes and help resolve pension related problems. After demise of husband or son, most of them are unaware of financial and service benefits that they are entitled to. Incorrect and incomplete documentation is common, causing severe hardships to the next of kin. Therefore, it was decided to dedicate AWWA Week 2019 as ‘Year of NOK’ and various lectures were organised to make families aware of facilities being awarded to next of kin of battle casualties on the first day.

AWWA is one of the largest voluntary organisations in India that aims at holistic development and well-being of Army wives including their children and rehabilitation of war widows and differently-abled children since its inception in August 1966.