HONOUR BOARD: SELFLESS SOCIAL SERVICE- COL ARUN MOGHE

 

 Retired  but  Not Tired

 

 Commissioned in the Corps of Engineers in December 1962, Col Arun Moghe  was engaged in the 1965 war in the Lahore sector. He was also in the 1971 war during the liberation of Bangladesh and was in fact one of the first ones to be in Dhaka. Later, he was on the staff of Advance Eastern Command HQ, at Dhaka. He was also part of IPKF in Sri Lanka.

He has been honoured with the COAS Commendation Card twice --  for Flood relief operations in Bihar and Special welfare measures taken for the ex-servicemen.

He took PMR in 1991 to head the Queen Mary’s Technical Institute for Rehabilitation of Disabled soldiers. He was the Executive Director of the QMTI for nine  years during which the Institute was awarded by the Govt. of India for outstanding work in rehab of the disabled Soldiers. The Institute also received the FICCI Award 1997 for outstanding work in the rehabilitation of the disabled. He was simultaneously associated with the Paraplegic Rehab Center and the Cheshire Home for the Spastic Children, in Kirkee, Pune.

 He also served as CEO of the International Leprosy Union which received the WHO’s Sasakawa Memorial Award for excellent work in eradication of leprosy.

He attended a programme on Social Gerontology at the UN Institute on Ageing, Malta and was the CEO the International Longevity Center (India). He compiled over 2000 Aids of Daily Living (ADL) after an extensive study of material available all over the world. A Book on the same was published by the International Longevity Center, (India) and was released at the hands of the then Minister – Ms Meira Kumar, Minister for Social Justice, Government of India.

 On being selected as the CEO of APARNA Novel Society for Welfare and Research (ANSWER) he came to Hyderabad and settled there. ANSWER is an NGO providing complete wherewithal to orphans and semi orphans. He headed this for 16 years and continues to be associated with it as an Advisor. During this period both he and his wife, really looked after the poor children.

In 2013, he had a major role in conceptualizing the idea of forming of a platform named the Defence Veterans Volunteer Group, Hyderabad (DVVGH) which motivates veterans to undertake voluntary work to help other veterans. This has grown over the years and has over 400 + members. This unique group has become a central help point for veterans. There is no membership fee and the group works as a cashless organization.

The DVVGH has established Local Support Groups particularly in colonies where there are large number of veterans. The work of the Local support groups is greatly valued and appreciated by non-ESM too.

            Col Arun Moghe has worked continuously for 63 years! He always had a passion for serving others selflessly, which he continues to do so even now at the ripe old age of 85.  His wife- Mohini has been with him all along in the social journey.