Mumbai: Lt Gen DS Kushwah meets Governor Acharya Devvrat, discuss security and disaster response

The meeting reaffirmed the Indian Army’s enduring commitment to safeguarding the region. Pic/Defence PRO

Lt Gen DS Kushwah, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa Area, met the Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai to review the ongoing cooperation between the Indian Army and the state authorities, an official statement said on Sunday.

The engagement laid particular emphasis on advancing Military-Civil Fusion as a means to reinforce coordination, enhance preparedness and improve the overall regional response, it said.

According to the statement, during the meeting, the Governor and Lt Gen Kushwah discussed the Army's support to state governments in disaster management, including flood relief and other humanitarian contingencies, along with measures to further strengthen rear area security. They also considered current and proposed initiatives designed to improve welfare delivery for Veterans and Veer Naris across Maharashtra and Gujarat, with a focus on making assistance more accessible and responsive.

The interaction examined key enablers for Military-Civil Fusion, including integrated facilities for Ex-Servicemen under the Sainik Sankul concept, augmentation of staff in district-level Zila Sainik Welfare Offices and streamlined management of land and infrastructure vital to Army operations. Both sides acknowledged that a closer alignment of military and civil capabilities is essential to ensure timely assistance to civil authorities whenever required, it said.

The meeting reaffirmed the Indian Army's enduring commitment to safeguarding the region, providing rapid humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and promoting the holistic welfare of veterans and their families. It also underlined the shared resolve of the Indian Army and State Administrations to deepen Military-Civil Fusion and institutional synergy in the broader interest of national security and public welfare, the statement said.