Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon the people to contribute whole-heartedly to the welfare of the soldiers and their families, terming it as the national duty of every citizen. Addressing the Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility (AFFD CSR) Conclave in New Delhi on March 3, 2025, he stated that India's soldiers always stand firm, vigilant and ready at the borders in difficult conditions to protect the country from all kinds of threats with courage & promptness.

While the Government is committed to strengthening India's security apparatus and ensuring the welfare of its soldiers & their families, it is the nation's collective responsibility to come forward and support them in every way possible, he said.

Rajnath Singh asserted that CSR is not about two per cent contribution, it is a matter of heart-to-heart connection with the brave soldiers and their dependants. "Whatever contribution you make, it will not be ordinary. You should take full care that tomorrow, when your real balance sheet is ready, it has more assets of satisfaction and happiness than liabilities," he told the top corporate heads present on the occasion.

Defence Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government's commitment to enhance the participation of the private sector, stating that the goal of Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat can be achieved through the concerted efforts of all stakeholders. He exuded confidence that with the growing private sector participation, India will find a place among the top-three economies of the world by 2027. He commended the corporate houses for their generous contributions towards AFFD Fund and felicitated top CSR donors on the occasion.

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence has been working for the welfare and rehabilitation of war widows, wards of fallen soldiers and ex-servicemen, including disabled ones by providing financial assistance for their identified personal needs such as penury grant, children's education grant, funeral grant, medical grant and orphan/disabled children grant.

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Dr Niten Chandra, other senior officials of MoD, members from the CSR fraternity and serving & retired personnel of the Armed Forces attended the conclave.