Around 600 serving and retired soldiers of the Indian Army , who were disabled in the line of duty, will be honoured in a programme specially organised at the Southern Command Headquarters in Pune on December 13. The Army has declared this year as the 'Year of Disabled Soldiers in Line of Duty'.

A wreath laying ceremony will be organised at the War Memorial of Bombay Engineering Group (BEG) & Centre, Kirkee, to commemorate the sacrifice by the soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty. It will be followed by a ceremony for release of Directorate of Indian Army Veteran Magazine and felicitation of outstanding differently-abled soldiers for their achievements.

The officials from the Army stated that the primary focus of the event is towards ameliorating the life of the soldiers, who while selflessly serving the nation became differently-abled for life. It will witness participation by various welfare agencies like Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), Queen Mary's Technical Institute (QMTI), Artificial Limb Centre (ALC), Ex-Serviceman Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Kendriya Sainik Board and PCDA (Allahabad), who will set up stalls to assist the differently-abled soldiers in resolving any pay/ pension anomalies and create awareness about medical, rehabilitation, beneficiary schemes and vocational opportunities. Various placement agencies will be attending the event and will do their bit in providing employment to the differently-abled soldiers.

A medical team with specialist and super speciality services will also be made available to these soldiers for health check-ups and required services for their welfare. The Army will also provide them with wheel chairs, prosthetic and artificial limbs during the event.

The officials added that the event will be a platform for interaction with the differently-abled soldiers and addressing their grievances. Indian Army is making efforts to motivate and assist these soldiers to become self-reliant by picking up new skills, contribute to nation building and lead a life with pride and financial independence. 

The differently-abled soldiers will be felicitated in the Samman Samroh program by the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. The Southern Command Commander, Lt General SK Saini, and other Army officials from all the commands will be present to felicitate the soldiers.

The special soldiers will also enact a dance drama drafted by the Redefined Concepts Pune during the cultural programme organised for the soldiers. The soldiers will be also taken to monumental ad historical places in Pune like Aga Khan Palace, Shanivar Wada and National Defence Academy in a tour.