The wives of the armed forces personnel, under the banners of Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) and Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA), rose to the occasion to meet the requirements that came from the front and the military hospitals where the wounded soldiers are undergoing treatment.``Our attempt is to do something for the soldiers who are shedding blood for the country. We want them to feel that we are behind them and ready to give all kinds of support," says AFWWA President Molina Tipnis, wife of Chief of Air staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis.

Stating that AFWWA had sufficient funds, she says, these only need to be channeled properly so that only the required items are delivered. ``With this in mind, we are regularlyin touch with the people on the front and the military hospitals treating the wounded soldiers to know their requirements,'' says Tipnis. She adds, ``Sending unnecessary items would be a sheer wastage.''

These organisations have received the requirement lists which include wheel chairs, intensive care unit trolleys, toiletries and clothing for the soldiers undergoing treatment in various hospitals. ``Since the injured soldiers come directly from the battlefield, they have virtually no personal belongings. This is where we step in to help,'' says Tipnis. The hospitals also require additional quantities of linen, bedding materials and blood, which is duly arranged by the AWWA and AFWWA.

In addition to the needs of the wounded soldiers in hospitals, the organisations have also taken upon themselves the task of meeting the various requirements of troops who are fighting both the enemy and the severe cold in the treacherous and inhospitable mountains where temperatures even now are sub-zero.

``The troops inthe battlefield require petty but very significant items such as warm clothing, big hot cases, thermos flasks," says AFWWA vice-president Baljeet Brar. Efforts are also made towards rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and dependents of the martyred troops by way of money or otherwise, she adds. ``For the widows of these martyred and disabled troops there are several ongoing programmes that will make them independent in the world outside,'' say sources in the AWWA.

The programmes ensure that the women get training in certain skills which will equip them for the future. ``After the war, it is our responsibility to settle these widows of the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives for the country,'' says a senior officer's wife.

According to sources in the AfWWA, ex-gratia payment of Rs 5,000 is paid to a member on the demise of her husband. In the case of death while in service, the grant is paid to the member in grief by the last unit, which is reimbursed by AFWWA.

In an attempt to make things much moreeasy for a widow, who is a member of the AFWWA and whose husband dies while in service, an amount of Rs 2,000 is given as a grant to one child on his or her marriage, says a senior AFWWA officer.

There is a special resettlement programme for the non-commissioned (NC) ranks in the forces, too. The widows of these NCs who die while in service after January 1991 and intend to resettle themselves with vocations such as tailoring and stitching are eligible for resettlement grant of Rs 2,000. Officers say that the president of the AFWWA has to ensure that the money goes to the right person and is spent appropriately.

Sources in the AWWA say that benefits on the similar lines are provided for the men and officers of the Indian army, too. Emphasis is laid on the training in various skills. ``We try to make things as easy for them as possible by giving out various grants for the children's education, marriages and medical care. Training in beautician courses, tailoring, stitching, cooking, typing secretarialcourses, etc, are imparted both by AFWWA and AWWA.''