Students for soldiers “Vidya – Veerta Abhiyan” was launched by Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Human Resource & Development, on May 2, 2017. The initiative aims to encourage educational institutes and universities across the nation to display portraits of soldiers decorated with Param Veer Chakra.
Also, under the Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan portraits of Param Veer Chakra decorated soldiers have been given to the Vice Chancellors of several universities, including Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Milia Islamia, IIT Delhi and IIT Jammu and others, to place them on “wall of heroes” in their institutions. The ministry expects that the action will inculcate a sense of nationalism and patriotism among new-generation students.
Brief About Param Veer Chakra (PVC)
- The Param Veer Chakra is highest military award in India, and is equivalent to the U.S. Medal of Honor in and United Kingdom’s Victoria Cross.
- The PVC award was established on January 26, 1950 and since then it has been awarded 21 times.
- This award is awarded to military personnel from Indian military’s all branches for showing unmatched acts of bravery during wartime.
- This military decoration is given to give respect to the “most conspicuous bravery or pre-eminent act of self-sacrifice or valour shown by soldiers, in the presence of the enemy, whether in the air, in sea or on land.”
- Savitri Khanolkar, wife of Vikram Khanolkar, an Indian Army officer of the Sikh Regiment, designed the design of Param Veer Chakra medal.
Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan: Key Facts
- The initiative has been launched to instil a sense of patriotism and nationalism among university students.
- It will revive the feeling of patriotic feeling in youth of the nation.
- It will change the atmosphere in the universities and colleges.
Also, Veergatha books on the 21 Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers were unveiled by the Indian HRD Ministry in 2015, with an aim to educate school children about the sacrifices made by the those bravehearts.
