War widows to be inducted into the Army

New Delhi, Jan.15 (ANI): Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Friday said that keeping in view the Indian Army standards, they would consider inducting the widows of defence personnel into the force.

"Keeping in view the standards of the Indian army, we will try to bring them (war widows) into the force so that they can again contribute towards the force and the nation," General Kapoor told reporters on the sidelines of 62nd Foundation Day celebration of the Indian Army in national capital New Delhi.

The desperate situation of war widows is rooted in the old Indian family system and beliefs whereby the family is dependent on the male member and once the husband is gone, the widow finds it difficult to survive and live with dignity.

Although armed forces have initiated various measures for proper rehabilitation of the war widows, yet many of them still find it difficult to benefit from them.

Army Day is observed every year on January 15 to commemorate Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa's taking over as the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian army from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British commander, in 1949. (ANI)