New Delhi: The situation in India`s
neighbourhood poses various challenges for the country and
there is a need to strengthen the internal fabric to meet it,
Defence Minister AK Antony said on Wednesday.
"Global security environment continues to be a cause of
concern and the situation in our neighbourhood poses various
challenges. There is a pressing need to strengthen the
internal fabric of our society and nation to meet such
challenges," Antony said here.
He was addressing a gathering of senior army officials
after inaugurating Gyandeep Centre of Excellence in
collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU), which will provide higher education to army personnel
for their post retirement career avenues.
Applauding the efforts made by the Army to train its
soldiers for alternate career once they retire from service,
Antony said empowerment of soldiers is an important issue
which must be addressed and monitored at all levels.
"Today soldiers are well educated and technology savvy,
the effort of empowerment of our soldiers will go a long way.
It will also enhance competence of our soldiers while
providing them second career alternatives once they retire,"
he said.
Stressing on the need to create educational
infrastructure along with credible certification methods, he
said, "These veterans from the armed forces must be integrated
with our society as they would continue to work with the same
dedication and commitment that they displayed as members of
the armed forces.
Addressing the conference, Army Chief Gen V K Singh
said, "Our aim is to empower our JCOs and jawans who get a
great amount of education and military training which needs to
be certified and to ensure a greater capacity building for our
officers."
PTI
