Pause for a Cause: Sainik Ashram It is 62 years since Independence, and while a majority of us live unfettered, a few war veterans are left alone, with no one to care for them and  nowhere to go. But thanks to Kerala Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (KEXWA) and Col. KBR Pillai, President, KEXWA, these old timers are spending their lives’ sunset in peace and comfort.
KEXWA is comprised of able-bodied ex-servicemen from all the three Defense Services, namely Army, Navy and Air Force. It was started to represent ex-servicemen’s interests and welfare in Kerala, and it also runs an old age home for World War II veterans. These war veterans were terminated during an effort to scale down the Armed Forces after India attained independence. As a result, the terminated war veterans were denied pension by the government for not serving in the Armed Forces for a stipulated period of time.
After braving bullets and mortar, and rescuing injured soldiers from the battlefield, these woebegone soldiers were sent away from where they belonged, to a life that held nothing more for them. Poor family background and no further means of survival meant that the final years of their lives were going to be far from peaceful.
Fortunately, KEXWA recognized their spirit of service to the country and decided to help the veterans by providing them accommodation, food and medical facilities for free. And thus, Sainik Ashram came about in 1997.
 Incidentally, KEXWA did not wait for donations or charity from any person or organization to start the old age home. It generates funds on its own by running security agencies, an Armed Forces Entrance Academy, tourism-related facilities, ornamental fish-breeding venture and other enterprises. Despite getting no funding from the Defence Ministry of India, KEXWA has ensured that the residents at Sainik Ashram, who are well into their 90s, lack nothing in their last days. Most of the residents have no family or have been abandoned by relatives, who themselves aren’t too well off.
Initially, KEXWA rented a building in Palarivattom to start Sainik Ashram. Today, because of KEXWA’s self-sufficient ventures, Sainik Ashram is housed in a self-owned building in Kakkanad, with convenient accommodation, mess and recreation area.
The residents at Sainik Ashram have also been doing their bit to serve the society. A few years ago, some of the old timers pledged to donate their body after their death to the Cooperative Medical College (CMC) for the benefit of medical students.
Col. Pillai assures that even when all the World War II veterans are gone, the Ashram will be open for ex-servicemen, whether pensioners or  otherwise. KEXWA, in fact, runs what they call Sainik Vihar, a group of independent small villas, available at very affordable prices for ex-servicemen who wish to spend their remaining lives with their spouses in reasonable comfort.
KEXWA is a registered charitable organization under Tranvancore—Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act XII of 1955. Col. KBR Pillai can be contacted on 09447021156. To know more about Sainik Ashram or to offer donations, you can contact:
Sainik Ashram
C/o Kerala Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (KEXWA)
Civil Station-Kunnumpuram Road P.O.
Kakkanad, Cochin - 682030.
Tel - 0484-2423212
By Nina Nair
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It is 62 years since Independence, and while a majority of us live unfettered, a few war veterans are left alone, with no one to care for them and nowhere to go. But thanks to Kerala Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (KEXWA) and Col. KBR Pillai, President, KEXWA, these old timers are spending their lives’ sunset in peace and comfort.
KEXWA is comprised of able-bodied ex-servicemen from all the three Defense Services, namely Army, Navy and Air Force. It was started to represent ex-servicemen’s interests and welfare in Kerala, and it also runs an old age home for World War II veterans. These war veterans were terminated during an effort to scale down the Armed Forces after India attained independence. As a result, the terminated war veterans were denied pension by the government for not serving in the Armed Forces for a stipulated period of time.
After braving bullets and mortar, and rescuing injured soldiers from the battlefield, these woebegone soldiers were sent away from where they belonged, to a life that held nothing more for them. Poor family background and no further means of survival meant that the final years of their lives were going to be far from peaceful.
Fortunately, KEXWA recognized their spirit of service to the country and decided to help the veterans by providing them accommodation, food and medical facilities for free. And thus, Sainik Ashram came about in 1997.
Incidentally, KEXWA did not wait for donations or charity from any person or organization to start the old age home. It generates funds on its own by running security agencies, an Armed Forces Entrance Academy, tourism-related facilities, ornamental fish-breeding venture and other enterprises. Despite getting no funding from the Defence Ministry of India, KEXWA has ensured that the residents at Sainik Ashram, who are well into their 90s, lack nothing in their last days. Most of the residents have no family or have been abandoned by relatives, who themselves aren’t too well off.
Initially, KEXWA rented a building in Palarivattom to start Sainik Ashram. Today, because of KEXWA’s self-sufficient ventures, Sainik Ashram is housed in a self-owned building in Kakkanad, with convenient accommodation, mess and recreation area.
The residents at Sainik Ashram have also been doing their bit to serve the society. A few years ago, some of the old timers pledged to donate their body after their death to the Cooperative Medical College (CMC) for the benefit of medical students.
Col. Pillai assures that even when all the World War II veterans are gone, the Ashram will be open for ex-servicemen, whether pensioners or otherwise. KEXWA, in fact, runs what they call Sainik Vihar, a group of independent small villas, available at very affordable prices for ex-servicemen who wish to spend their remaining lives with their spouses in reasonable comfort.
KEXWA is a registered charitable organization under Tranvancore—Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act XII of 1955. Col. KBR Pillai can be contacted on 09447021156. To know more about Sainik Ashram or to offer donations, you can contact:
Sainik Ashram
C/o Kerala Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (KEXWA)
Civil Station-Kunnumpuram Road P.O.
Kakkanad, Cochin - 682030.
Tel - 0484-2423212
By Nina Nair |
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