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COVER STORYDefence Industry & TechnologyMILITARY

INDIAN NAVAL PLACEMENT AGENCY AND OPTUM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS SIGN AN MOU TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RESETTLEMENT OF NAVY VETERANS

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The Indian Naval Placement Agency (INPA) and Optum, part of the United Health Group, today signed an MoU, through which the two entities will explore opportunities for the recruitment of naval veterans. Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, Controller of Personnel Services, Indian Navy and Mr. RiteshTalapatra, Managing Director, Optum Global Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd. signed the MoU. At the event, Optum and United Health Group were represented by Ms. Swati Rangachari, Vice President and Country Leader, Public Affairs and Strategic Engagements United Health Group while INPA was represented by Cmde Pankaj Sharma, Cmde ESM Affairs at IHQ MoD (Navy).

Through the MoU, INPA will identify a pool of Ex-Servicemen/ dependents candidates for relevant roles as per recruitment standards of Optum. The company will, in turn, enable these individuals’ transition to the corporate sector through in-house assimilation and training programs.

Optum under the aegis of its diversity and inclusion initiative aims to offer ex-servicemen opportunities in line with their qualifications, experience, and attributes acquired during their service period.

Appreciating the efforts of the Indian Naval Placement Agency in helping the veterans find employment opportunities after completing their service to the nation,  Ms. Swati Rangachari stated that “We want to thank Admiral Suraj Berry, Commodore Pankaj Sharma and Commander Vijay for making us a part of this endeavour”. Reiterating their commitment towards the country and its talent she added that “We, at UnitedHealth Group are dedicated to positively impact the communities we are a part of and through this program we hope to boost our 30K+ strong workforce in India to build a health system that truly works better for everyone”.

“We are honored and proud to partner with the Indian Navy to recruit our veterans who have served the country selflessly and bring with them special skills that can be applied towards creating a healthier world and through this MoU we hope to further our commitment to our armed forces and provide our veterans a platform to continue doing their life’s best work.” said, Mr. Sumek Gopal, Vice President, Human Capital, Optum.

In his concluding remarks Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, said that “The INPA is committed to facilitating Ex-Servicemen, our veterans, find employment opportunities after their service to our Nation and it is our endeavor to work with the corporate sector to identify and develop programs that enables this cause. We look forward to working with Optum & United Health Group on this initiative”.

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COVER STORYMILITARY

India@75 BRO motorcycle expedition team reaches Jammu on second leg

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India@75 Border Roads Organisation (BRO)motorcycle expedition, which was flagged off by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh from National War Memorial in New Delhi on October 14, 2021; completed its first leg by covering 3,050 kilometres in less than nine days. In the second leg, which started on October 24, 2021, the expedition has reached Jammu.

The expedition is traversing through five states/Union Territories, crossing plains of Delhi & Punjab and hill &snowbound areas of Himachal, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in the first leg.It touched important places such as Chandigarh, Shimla, Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, Hanle (14,000 ft), Umling La, Pang, Leh (11,000 ft), Khardung La(17,400 ft), Namika La (12,140 ft), Fotu La (13,478 ft), Kargil & Zoji La(11,575 ft) before coming to halt at Srinagar. It may be noted that BRO had recently constructed highest motorable road in the world at Umling La (19, 300 ft).

While adventure was one of the aims of the expedition, the team was also able to achieve the other objectives of promoting message of national integration, nation building and road safety awareness among the masses. A number of outreach programmes were organised at Sundar Nagar and Manali in Himachal, Nyoma, Pang, Hanle, Leh and Kargil in Ladakh and then at Srinagar. The team interacted with the local citizens and tourists, building bonds and spreading the message of road safety. The enthusiastic local populace joined hands with expedition team and collectively carried out cleanliness drive promoting message of ‘Swachh Bharat’ at Manali, Leh, and Kargil. The team got the opportunity of interactingwith BRO/Ex-Servicemen and Gallantry Award winners.

The team also interacted with the youth and young school children at Sunder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh and Leh in Ladakh and distributed school bags &stationery items, sharing with them ideas and experiences. The team also established a cultural connect by joining locals of Kullu district in celebrations of the world famous Kullu Dusshera and then visiting the Bhima Kali Mandir and Thiksey Monastery. They paid obeisance to our fallen heroes at Kargil War Memorial.

The first leg of the 20,000 km long expedition was action-packed and undoubtedly one of the most challenging legs. As the expedition gained momentum and altitude, the men and the machines were tested to the hilt, the team members endured sub-zero temperature (up to -25°C), Heavy snow blizzard, slippery roads and low oxygen levels at super high altitudes and every man in the team showed exemplary grit, courage and intent in taking the expedition forward through the difficult and challenging phases.

The BRO expedition team received overwhelming support, hospitality, encouragement, affection and warmth from the locals at every phases of the expedition, team members also radiated bonhomie, reciprocated love and made good friends enroute and finally handed over the baton at Srinagar to the next team. The second leg will further pass through Chandigarh, Rishikesh, Tanakpur, Praygraj, Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Patna, Bhagalpur and will finally culminate at ‘The Gateway to North East” Siliguri, West Bengal, on November 04, 2021.

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