Cheques of Rs. 1 lakh each handed over to the families of martyrs and financial assistance rendered to 65 year old widow of an Ex-Serviceman

Bengaluru, 16th December, 2010

Vijay Diwas, observed to mark Indian victory in the war over Pakistan in 1971 which resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh, was observed with dignity and poise by placing wreaths and paying homage to the statue of Unknown Soldier at the National Military Memorial Park premises by hundreds of citizens of Bangalore. In a befitting tribute to the martyrs on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, The Flags of Honour Foundation honoured the families of martyrs from Karnataka – Rifleman K.S. Ravindra who was killed fighting terrorist in Jammu & Kashmir and BSF Constable Bheema Shankar Hadapad, who lost his life fighting the naxals in Chattisgarh and handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh each. The Foundation also offered financial assistance in kind to a 65 year old widow of late Sapper Philomina Raj Mrs. Bakya Mary who was deserted by her children and wanted to live a life with dignity by earning a living and requested items consisting of commercial idly maker and accessories, which was handed over to her at the function.

The Vijay Diwas function was graced by Honourable Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde, Home Minister Mr. R. Ashoka, Higher Education Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya, State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr. S. Suresh Kumar, Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council Mr. D. H. Shankara Murthy, Minister for Minorities Welfare, Wakf and Haj  Mr. Mumtaz Ali Khan, and Member of Legislative Council Capt. Ganesh Karnik, and hundreds of citizens, school children, serving and ex-servicemen etc.

The Flags of Honour Foundation, an initiative of Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, who is also the Principal Donor of the Foundation, says “Bravery and the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces  personnel go largely unrecognized, unappreciated by the nation and Flags of Honour Foundation is an endeavour to be a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help and  the martyr's families”.

Flags of Honour Foundation was founded with the objective of ensuring that our fallen heroes are never forgotten and believes that the greatest measure of respect that one can bestow upon a fallen hero is by supporting the family and strives to understand their needs. The Foundation identifies the need and requirements of the families of martyrs and effectively route financial, social, and material support and ensure that that the families of the martyrs never endure alone. Citizens who wish to support the martyrs’ family can make their donations on www.flagsofhonour.org / www.flagsofhonour.in. 

Rifleman K S Ravindra of  3 MADRAS, Indian Army
Rifleman K S Ravindra a native of Bengunada Badaga, Cherambane PO Madikeri, Kodagu District, was martyred on 6th September, 2010 when he was on a search mission under Op RAKSHAK and fighting a terrorists’ ambush in Jammu & Kashmir. The mother of the brave soldier Smt. S Sharada received the cheque of Rs 1 lakh.

Constable Bheema Shankar  Hadapad  of No. 200 Battalion BSF
Constable Bheema Shankar  Hadapad, a native of Narohana village in Alland Taluk of Gulbarga District was martyred on 29th Aug 2010 in a fierce battle with the naxalites  in Chattisgarh sector. Constable Bheema Shankar’s mother Smt Shreedevi received the cheque for Rs 1 lakh.

Smt Bakya Mary, widow Sapper Philomina Raj, MEG.
Smt Bakya Mary is the widow of Sapper Philomina Raj, MEG who died in a road accident in Bangalore while on annual leave and thus his family is  ineligible for monthly pension from the Government. The 65 year old widow is a non-pensioner and gets a meagre relief of Rs 4000/- per annum from Department of Rajya Sainik Welfare & Resettlement, Bangalore. Distanced by her three adult children, Smt Bakya Mary stays alone and approached the Foundation for assistance.  Being the wife of a brave soldier, she wanted to live her life by earning her living with dignity. On her request the foundation presented her items consisting of commercial idly maker and  other accessories.

Support extended to the families of  martyrs by Flags of Honour Foundation
In the recent past, Flags of Honour Foundation has reached out and supported many families of the martyrs in Karnataka and other places. Some of them are:

• Constable Shivappa - Cheque for Rs. 2 Lakhs to Smt. BS Nethravathi to the widow of CRPF Constable Shivappa, who was one of the 75 CRPF men killed by Naxals in Chattisgarh on April 06, 2010.
• Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan: The family of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan,  a brave Army Officer who sacrificed his life while fighting terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was presented a cheque of Rs. 25 Lakhs by Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament.
• Colonel Jojan Thomas: The family of Colonel Jojan Thomas, a brave Army Officer who was martyred in a battle with militants in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, was presented a cheque of Rs. 5 Lakhs by Lt. General Satish Nambiar (retd) PVSM, AVSM, VrC on behalf of Flags of Honour Foundation.
• Smt Pushpa Vanti, Widow of late Major Dharam Chand, Meerut: Monetary benefit of Rs 10,000/- was extended to Smt Pushpa Vanti, Widow of late Major Dharam Chand of the Indian Army residing at 123, Roorkee Road, Opp. RVC Officer’s Mess, Meerut Cantt.-250001, (UP).
• Smt Lila Devi, Punjab: A monthly monetary benefit of Rs.2000/- was extended for life on 22 Sep 2010 to a destitute widow, Smt Lila Devi, W/O late Sep Satpal Singh,6 Rajput, Indian Army , a non-pensioner, residing at Vill. & PO SANGHOL, Khumano, Fatehgarh Sahib District, Punjab.

About Flags of Honour
Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament has been an ardent advocate of cause of Armed Forces Personnel and the sacrifices they make to protect the nation and has been championing the issue of One Rank, One Pension for retired servicemen. On the issue of frisking of Army Chief at the airport, Mr. Chandrasekhar took up the issue strongly in the Parliament forcing the Government to drop the practice.
Mr. Chandrasekhar strongly backed Karnataka Government’s project to build India’s first National Military Memorial Park coming up in Bangalore.

At a time when our nation is under threat from within and out, from low intensity conflicts and terrorist attacks, uniformed forces represent not just the form of protection and defence to our way of life and democracy, but also represent the ideals on which this country was built - of commitment to nation and nation first.

The Flags of Honour Foundation is an endeavour to be a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help, and the martyr's families. Citizens have often felt the need and a humble intention to support the martyr's family in some way and the Foundation provides this great platform to reach out to the families of martyrs. The Foundation will identify the need and requirements of these families and effectively route financial, social, and material support.

The Foundation hopes to ensure that the families of the martyrs never endure alone, and attempts to be the beacon of hope and inspiration for all citizens to join hands in saluting our heroes through their family

Flags of Honour Foundation Advisory Panel

The Flags of Honour panel of advisors consists of Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Honourable Member of Parliament, Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (retd) PVSM, AVSM, SC,VM, Air Commodore M. K. Chandrasekhar (retd) VM, VSM, a Philanthropist,Lt. General Satish Nambiar (retd), PVSM, AVSM, VrC, Air Marshal MC Mahon (retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM, Commodore Franklin (retd) AVSM, VSM,Eminent Lawyer Sajan Poovayya, Smt. Subhasini Vasanth, Trustee, Vasantharathna Foundation of Arts, Manvendra Singh, Ex- MP