STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: As part of its silver jubilee celebrations, the Central Govt Pensioners Welfare Association (CGPWA) J&K, Jammu on Saturday released two publications-Silver Jubilee Souvenir issue of Pensioners ‘Journal and Members’ Directory.
In hybrid mode of silver jubilee function, partly offline and partly in Virtual mode, the President of the Association, S.S Wazir, former ADGP did the honours along with the former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Kuldeep Khoda and some office bearers and few members at Day Care Centre for Elders, Exhibition Ground.
In view of COVID pandemic restrictions many members participated through virtual mode including Dr. Ashok Bhan former DGP who hosted the vrtual meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Wazir commended the active members of CGPWA to nurture the sapling planted 25 years ago in the shape of this Association which has grown into one of the best Central Govt Pensioners Associations in the country besides being a creditable charitable NGO in J&K.
He complimented the efforts of his team for carrying forward the mission of the founding members to project and seek redressal of the grievances of the Pensioners and always remained in the vanguard for social and charitable work.
The General Secretary J. K. Vaid explained the importance of both publications released today and said that starting from a handful of ten central Govt pensioners the CGPWA has grown in size with membership increasing to 348 by March this year, and activities including social service and helping people in distress due to natural calamities within J&K and outside. The Association has members from All India Services and 34 other Central Govt Departments.
The Vice President of CGPWA, B. K. Raina recalled the untiring efforts of one of the foundering members and the Patron, V. P Sharma who passed away suddenly last year and said that he had been the motivating spirit behind all of the activities of the Association. The Pensioner fraternity sadly missed him today.
Kuldeep Khoda lauded the initiatives the members of CGPWA towards welfare of Pensioners said that bringing out two publications today spoke volume about their energy, commitment and social innovations, even at this stage of life.
The former Director General of DRDO, Dr. Sudarshan Kumar Sharma said that these publications are of immense value as many of the articles have a treasure of information on a variety of subjects.
Among those who spoke on the occasion include Dr. Ashok Bhan, K. B. Jandial, IAS ( Retd) O.N Koul, M.A Anjum, Ashok Gupta, (all retired IGPs) Sunil Sharma former DGM, BSNL.
Among those present at offline function include Prem Gupta retired IGP, B. B. Magotra retired IB officer and K L Sharma retired officer of IDAS.
The Association had come into being in July 1994 when ten Central Govt Pensioners assembled at Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Gandhi Nagar and decided to launch this Association under the Presidentship of K R Sharma, retired Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu with late V P Sharma, retired Director GSI as its General Secretary.
The Souvenir released today contained two of the articles of late V P Sharma including one that unfolded the onerous journey of CGPWA of 25 years and how purposefully it marched ahead for the welfare of the civil society in general and pensioners in particular.
It contained articles on forest, ecology and environment, agriculture, constitutional matters, lakes, water resources in J&K and Ladakh and health care. The Souvenir also contained central government orders, circular and memoranda on CGHS, pension & pensioners ‘welfare, family pension, life certificate and activities.