AFVOA Newletters of Year 2007

Page 22 of 68 E-mail IDs for better and faster communication. He also requested the members to hand over their MDS if not done earler. (c) VAT exemption. Govt of Tamil Nadu have exempted Military Personnel from payment of VAT for all purchases from CSD. (d) Employment opportunities. The Secretary stated that few vacancies for Structural and Design Engineers do exist for employment in an engineering company – M/s VANJAX & Co. and that a rep of the firm was available in the gathering who could be contacted in this connection. President’s Address . The President’s opening remarks were to thank the members of the Executive Committee for having organized the Annual picnic, periodic meetings, forwarding recommendations for the sixth pay commission and visit to OTA in befitting manner. He said that while he was out of the country details of all activities were communicated to him and that he was pleased to know of the happenings. He welcomed the newly posted NOIC, Cmde PE VanHaltren, VSM and on behalf of all members of AFVOA wished him all the very best in his Command. He then presented him with a memento and a copy of “Hello Veterans – 2004.” Honouring Octogenarians. Welcoming the Principal guest of honour, the President said that he felt greatly privileged to honour Vice Admiral (Retd) B. A. Samson PVSM, who was the Commandant at the National Defence Academy, Kharakwasla, when he was a cadet in Kilo Squadron. He further stated that it was indeed a rare coincidence that, amidst the audience attending the meeting, there was also Brigadier Narayanan, who was his own cadet when he was an instructor at the OTA Chennai. Subsequently, the President briefly narrated the various achievements of Admiral Samson during his four decades of Service career, and his post retirement contribution to the ship building industry and to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). He said that the Admiral shed his lustre on every institution that he served and left an indelible mark on them. He was an ‘achiever’ throughout. Starting off with the Viceroy’s Gold Medal for proficiency in Dec 1931, when he was with his training ship DUFFERIN and ending it with the award of PVSM by the President of India for his most distinguished Service in the Indian Navy. At the request of the President, the Patron presented a memento to the Admiral and Mrs. Sundara Rao handed over a floral bouquet each to Mrs. Samson and Ms Leela Samson. The Admiral on his part thanked the Patron, President, members and the families of the AFVOA, for honouring him, his wife and daughter Ms Leela Samson, by inviting them over for the regular meeting of the Association. He was overwhelmed by the warmth, affection and concern shown to them. He went to say that the tenure that he had as “Commandant NDA” during his Service career had left lasting impressions. He considered NDA as the best institution for fostering inter-services cooperation. He had met many wonderful people and their love and affection are etched in his memory. During his inaugural address to the cadets of the NDA, in order to highlight the qualities of honesty, integrity, transparency and truthfulness he said that he had no qualms in admitting to them that unlike his illustrious predecessors who were all excellent ‘Cavalry Officers”, he did not even know to “ride a horse” and that he too would learn it along with them. (No doubt he would have won their spontaneous respect and admiration- Editor). He added that small gestures and little things mean a lot to him as he valued human sentiments; quoting an example, he narrated the incident of General N C Vij, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, phoning him up at his Bombay residence, on his taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff. General Vij sought the blessings from his Commandant as an ex cadet and now as the head of the Service. He