All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association: Brief History

All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association

Registered and Recognized by Govt. of India, Min. of Defense

Brief History

1. All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Association (AIGEWA) is a prestigious organization serving Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s and dependents all over India. The Organisation came into its existence on 26 Nov 1950.The Association was formed during the the onset of World War with a contributory fund of .40 Lacs as corpus money received from Post War Reconstruction Fund in 1947. The Post War Reconstruction Fund was a scheme created by the British India Govt on 3 April 1942 when the great World War II had broken out. It was made for the Welfare and rehabilitation of thousand of Indian Soldiers and Gorkha Soldiers of Nepal who had fought for the Britishers in the World War II viz, from 3 Sep 1939 to 8 Nov 1945. British India Govt contemplated that on completion of war several soldiers would be de-mobilized and go back to their homes. Hence , in Apr 1942 for their welfare and rehabilitation a fund was created known as “Post War Reconstruction Fund” (PWRF) . To this fund Govt Of India contributed every month Rupees two for each combatant and one rupees for each non combatant. Consequently , World War II ended on 08 Nov 1945 when America’s fighter planes dropped two atom bombs in Japanese busy cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki causing huge destruction and loss of human lives.

2. The total amount accumulated in the PWRF during the 6 Year World War II were as under: -

(i) Army - .19,35,24,000.00

(ii) Royal Indian Navy - . 13,31,000.00

(iii) Royal Indian Air Force - . 11,84,000.00

Total - .19,60,39,000.00

3. The then Govt. decided to with hold 20% of PWRF as corpus money for future and welfare of Indian Ex-Servicemen and rest of the shares were distributed to various provinces and Indian states for their troops. During these period our neighbouring countries like Burma, Pakistan, Srilanka Nepal were considered as provinces and states like Gwalior, Hydrabad etc. of local Rajya/ Zamindars under British India rules.

4. During the process amount of .54 Lacs came into the shares of Nepal and was passed onto the Govt Of Nepal in 1947 without retaining any share for the Indian Gorkha Soldiers staying back / settled in India totaling to approx 15000 . Despite sacrificing their valuable lives in the battle field of World War II, legitimate rights of Indian Gorkhs were ignored. Having found such injustice some of elite Indian Gorkhas like Ari Bahadur Gurung, Bar- at – Law (Darjeeling) then member of Parliament (I^st Lok Sabha of Independent India), Dilip Singh Thakur, New Delhi, LR Josse, MLA Calcutta, Shri Dhan Singh Thapa, New Delhi, Sheel Chand Thakur, New Delhi etc. unitedly came forward to protest against this issue. Not only this they also formerly formed an organisation called as “Indian Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Fund” (IGEWF) which later on became the mile stone in formation of AIGEWA. Through this IGEWF, they put forward the strong demand of PWRF shares for Indian Gorkha Ex-Servicemen also. Ultimately Govt. of Nepal agreed to offer .10 Lacs out of their shares and Govt. of India also offered additional .30 Lacs . Thus , the amount of 40 Lacs were made as corpus money for the welfare of IGEWF. The Indian Govt then advised Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung, MP to form an organisation in all India basis for the administration of .40 Lacs corpus money in a suitable manner. So in the mean time All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association (AIGEWA) was formed on 14 Feb 1951( as per the Govt. order) and allotted registered no S-476 of 1950 by the Society Act xxi of 1860. Thereafter it was simultaneously recognized by Govt. of India, Min of Defence letter No. (Copy enclosed) .

Formal AIGEWA Formation

5. Under the direction of the Min. of Defence the first meeting of IGEW Fund was held on 20 Mar 1951 in which AIGEWA was finally formed. This meeting was inaugurated by Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung, MP at the Constitution Hall of Parliament House, New Delhi in the august presence of Shri Himat Singh Jee, Minister and Shri HM Patel, ICS then Defence Secretary and 10 representatives of Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s (GESM) of Assam Shillong, Darjeeling, Dehradun, Bhagshu, Dharamahsala, Nautanwa, Shimla, New Delhi. In this meeting Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung was elected AIGEWA’s first President, Shri LR Josse, MLA, Vice President and Shri DS Thakur, General Secretary.

6. It is also worth mentioning here that in the meeting Govt. of India, Min of Defence clarified that they will not be able to deal with the affairs of Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s spread over in various states. Hence, the Govt. of India instead authorized AIGEWA to make recommendation to the Min of Defence for the smooth administration of Indian Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare fund set up under Govt. of India letter No.27-8B(124)/49/I/1267/D(AG) dated 14 Feb 1951. This is the historical facts regarding the formation of AIGEWA for which all Indian Gorkha Ex-servicemen should feel proud of .

Management And Utilization Of Fund

7. The main objective of the fund is to offer grant to promote the economic , social & educational welfare of the Gorkhas & also to render assistance to orphans , widows & destitudes. A committee was thus formed administer the fund. The Chairman was the Secty Min Of Defence and President AIGEWA ,The DGR & Secty KSB were also the members. Thus the corpus money of .40 lacs has been merged with Flag day Fund under Ministry of Defense Govt. of India, New Delhi wef. from 2000. This is under the supervision of Kendriya Sainik Board Army Headquarter RK Puram, New Delhi . Interest of the Corpus Money are provided to AIGEWA every year as a Annual Budget for its utilization for the welfare of Indian Gorkha Ex-Servicemen, their widows and dependents in the shape of scholarship, funeral grant, DD-40, Daughters marriage and loss of property due to natural calamities.

(a) The Annual Budget till FY- 2006-2007 was only 5 Lacs

(b) From FY 2007-2008 it was increased to 8 Lacs.

(c) Now, due to increase in awareness & spreading of AIGEWA activities / launching of various wefare projects 8 Lacs budgets is also felt inadequate to carry out those important projects and programmes all over India. KSB, New Delhi has been requested again to enhance our Budgets to 12 Lacs.

Sister Organisations Affiliated To AIGEWA

8. The headquarters of AIGEWA is located at the Multi Purpose Hall, Vill Nayagaon , PO Anarwala, Dehradun (Uttarakhand). The following are its sister Orgs;-

(i) Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Darjeeling (WB)

(ii) Himachal Pradesh Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Association, Bakloh (HP)

(iii) Himachal & Punjab Gorkha Association, Dharamshala, (HP)

(iv) Gorkha Sudhar Sabha, Jammu

(v) Gorkha Ex-Servicemen welfare Union, Nautanwa (UP)

(vi) Punjab Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, Pathankot (Punjab)

(vii) Gorkha Association , Shimla (HP)

(viii) Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, Dehradun, (UK)

(ix) Meghalaya Gorkha Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare Union, Shillong (Meghalaya)

(x) Sirmour Gorkha Association Nahan (HP)

Aim and Objects:

9. The Association was formed exclusively for the welfare of Gorkha Community to cover Welfare schemes for upliftment of its socio economic status. The objectives are enumeratsd below:-

(a) To render such assistance – pecuniary etc. – to widows, orphans, destitutes and other needy members of the community as may be possible out of funds which may be specially collected for such objects.

(b) To consider and put into force all proposals received by the association from associate organisations for benefits, assistance or aids etc. to members of the community.

India

(d) To lay down policies regarding investment, disbursement and utilization of the funds belonging to the Association.

(e) To collect and receive funds, contributions from Government, various organisation and individuals etc. to full fill the objects for which the Association has been formed.

(f) To render financial support to the deserving financially poor children of ex-servicemen, who are studying from class VI to BA and above through scholarship.

(g) To conduct free 3 months vocational training of professional course like: - Beautician, computer, carpet weaving, soft toys making and cutting tailoring, knitting, embroidery, painting and fabric painting in their areas of affiliated organisation whenever they demand so that dependent youths of ex-Servicemen may became self reliant.

(h) To prevail awareness among the society for the upliftment of community.

Infrastructure

10. Fortunately due to relentless personal endeavour of Late Brig (Retd) SS Panwar, Ex- President today AIGEWA has its own infrastructure located at Multipurpose Home (MPH), at Vijaypur- Hathibarkala (Naya Gaon) Dehradun constructed at the cost of .28 lacs provided by Kendriya Sainik Board, New Delhi. Today, this Multipurpose Home (MPH) have its office accommodation, small Library cum Conference Hall, Coaching Class rooms for computers, ladies Vocational Training Class room involving , tailoring cutting, Knitting, embroidery etc. Beside this, we are maintaining guest rooms / dormitory accommodation having 18 beds ( 18 pers), dining hall and kitchen, for stay of out station guests /delegates during Annual General Meeting.

(AK Mukhia)

Dated: May 2011 General Secretary

Financial Aid

11. Our sincere endeavor is to help our community people with the maximum Financial Aid. Our five year’s Financial Aid Data given below explains our efforts to implement activities through various affiliated organisations to Gorkha ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents living in different part of the country.

	FY-2010-11	FY-2011-12	FY-2012-13	FY-2013-14
(a) Stipends	397900/-	387800/-	362280/-	339840/-
(b) Funeral	170970/-	4500/-	12600/-	1500/-
(c) Natural Calamities	30000/-	15000/-	2500/-	--------
(d) Destitute (DD-40)	-------	-------	--------	10,400/-
(e) Widows Daughter Marriage	5000/-	12500/-	--------	5000/-
(f) Vocational Training	43650/-	136650/-	192450/-	140700/-
(g) Office Contingencies	--------	--------	8000/-	8000/-
(h) Telephone , Electricity, Water Bills	16185/-	14102/-	17219/-	18523
(i) Travelling & Conveyance	65028/-	62457/-	16344/-	84087/-
(j) Honorarium	108000/-	112400/-	129600/-	129455/-
(k)By Contigenies
(a) Printing & Stationary	10591/-	16639/-	8030/-	12139/-
(b) Postage & Courier	4673/-	7582/-	2703/-	7437/-
(c) Others	900/-	12213/-	8000/-	23930/-
(l) Audit Charges	7000/-	7000/-	7000/-	7000/-
(m) Repairs & Manitenance	56527/-	8550/-	15263/-	35675/-
(n) Miscelleneous Expenses	5115/-	22585/-	37304/-	9444/-
TOTAL:	9,21,539/-	8,19,978/-	8,11,293/-	8,33,130/-

Managing Committee

12. The whole affairs of AIGEWA are looked after by managing committee which are elected by representative of affiliated sister organizations in its trinnial meetings. At present following dedicated members are putting their best services in managing the administration , assets and Financial management of AIGEWA:-

(a) President : - DIG (Retd) Ex-Maj V S Thapa

(b) Senior Vice President ,hq AIGEWA : - Col (Retd) M S Thakur

(Hariyana, Punjab, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh)

(d) Vice President, North East Sector :- Sub Subodh Joshi (Retd)

(Meglahaya, West Bengal, whole Assam)

(e) General Secretary : - OS Shri AK Mukhia (Retd)

(f) Secy cum Treasurer : - Miss Shristi Pradhan

Our Motto: “tuuh tUe Hkwfe’p LoZxknfi xfj;lh” “Mother and Motherland are greater than heaven”.

Brief History

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