At a special ceremony during the Retiring Officers Seminar in New Delhi, the Indian Army conferred the prestigious Veteran Achievers Award on three distinguished ex-servicemen whose outstanding post-retirement work continues to uplift society and serve the nation. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi presented the awards to Colonel Christopher Rego (Retd), Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Singh Rana (Retd), and Havildar Khirod Kumar Jena (Retd), acknowledging their extraordinary dedication to nation-building long after their active military service ended.
Colonel Christopher Rego (Retd), a veteran of the Corps of Engineers, was honored for his visionary work with Sunbird Trust, a non-profit he founded in 2016. After retiring in January 2016, Rego channeled his efforts into improving education and sustainable development in Northeast India. His organization has supported over 49,000 students and touched more than 390,000 lives by 2024 through impactful partnerships with local governments and the armed forces. Recognized as an Ashoka Fellow in 2016, Rego’s mission to foster peace through education in conflict-affected areas stands as a model of transformative social leadership.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohinder Singh Rana (Retd), of the Army Service Corps, has made notable strides in community service since his retirement in 2017. Based in Himachal Pradesh, Rana co-founded the Smile Foundation to assist the underprivileged and launched a grievance redressal desk in Khudian, Kangra. Through Career Point Academy, he provides free training for young aspirants to join the armed forces. His humanitarian work includes organizing monthly langars and providing flood relief during recent natural disasters in Himachal. His efforts reflect a lifelong dedication to uplifting his community and supporting fellow veterans.
Havildar Khirod Kumar Jena (Retd), an Artillery veteran from Odisha, has become a symbol of grassroots environmental activism. Since retiring in 2005, he has planted over 30,000 fruit-bearing trees using his own pension funds and aims to reach 100,000. He installed a borewell to support this green initiative and has inspired fellow veterans and villagers to join him in restoring local ecosystems. His work promotes biodiversity, supports wildlife, and serves as a living example of ecological patriotism.
General Upendra Dwivedi praised the awardees as embodiments of the Indian Army’s core values of selfless service, courage, and commitment. He noted that the Veteran Achievers Award is not just a recognition of past military accomplishments but also a celebration of continued contributions to the nation’s progress in areas like education, social welfare, and environmental conservation.
The ceremony resonated with the Army’s broader vision of transformation, aligning with 2025’s themes of the “Year of Tech Absorption” and the ongoing “Decade of Transformation” (2023–2032). These initiatives reflect a dual commitment to innovation and societal development, both in and out of uniform.
Senior Army officials, retiring officers, and representatives from the Ministry of Defence attended the event, applauding the honorees for setting inspiring examples of post-retirement service. Their journeys reaffirm the Indian Army’s belief that the call of duty does not end with retirement but continues in the service of the greater good.
