
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Joy Choudhury receiving the
Veteran Achievers Award from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in Kolkata on
February 19.
- DIMAPUR — Indian
army veteran, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Joy Choudhury from Nagaland, was one
among two ex-servicemen (ESM), who were awarded the Veteran Achievers Award
this year.
- The awards were handed over by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
on February 19 during a ceremony held at the headquarters of Eastern Command,
Fort William, Kolkata. The awards were given in recognition of their
contribution to Ex-Servicemen (ESM) initiatives in nation-building.”
- Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Joy Choudhury is currently
serving as the deputy director and secretary of Zila Sainik Board, Mokokchung.
- An alumnus of the National Defence Academy and Indian
Military Academy, Lt. Col. Joy was commissioned as an officer in the 12th
Battalion of Jat Regiment in 1985. Over a career spanning almost 30 years, he
had actively served in India as well as deployed in other parts of the world
since 2014. Married to a Naga, he calls Nagaland his home.
- An update stated that post-retirement, he took to veterans’
welfare activities, specially focused on productive transition to civilian
life. His ESM outreach works has spanned multiple sectors including
agriculture, entrepreneurship and community service.
- His pioneering ESM outreach mission has ensured that
veterans, some of whom had not been reached in decades, receive the support
they deserved.
- Currently serving as the deputy director and secretary of
Zila Sainik Board, Mokokchung, he had been pursuing for establishment of the
first integrated Sainik complex, which is an initiative of the Department of
Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, in Nagaland. The complex seeks to
provide ex-servicemen with essential healthcare and welfare services, ensuring
their continued well-being.
- Understanding the significance of financial independence, he
has initiated steps towards entrepreneurship and skill development of veterans’
families, in collaboration with the Army Skill Training Centre, State Institute
of Hotel Management in Dimapur and other organisations. His work has also extended
to promoting financial literacy among veterans and their families.