During the World War I from 1914 to 1919, the British Indian Army fought in various theaters of war like North Africa, Italy, Europe in the Western Theatre and Burma, Malay, Japan in the Eastern theatre and contributed its might in the defeat of Germany and Turkey. Most of the Indian soldiers were of rural background and were deployed on war time duties far away from homeland. The long absence of the soldiers from their homes and inadequate communication system of those days created a restive situation amongst soldiers and a need was therefore felt to keep the morale of the troops high, was felt by the then British Government. The Indian Soldiers Board (ISB) was formed at the end of World War I in 1919 to look after primarily welfare of the families of the serving soldiers. Later on with the expansion of the Royal Indian Navy and Royal Indian Air Force, the Indian Soldiers Board was given the additional responsibility of looking after the welfare of families of Naval and Air Force Personnel too. Hence, the name of the Board was changed to Indian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Board (ISS&A B) at the State level. At the district level District Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board (DSS&A B) at District headquarters were created. |
| At the end of World War II in 1945, demobilization of Indian troops took place. Considerable large number of service personnel were released after short service in the Defence forces. For the resettlement of these demobilized soldiers, Employment Exchanges were assigned the responsibility in all the District Headquarters of the country. The responsibility of looking after the welfare of these demobilized soldiers was given to Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board in addition to the welfare of serving defence personnel and their families. Indian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board was made responsible to lay down the policies for the welfare of the Ex-servicemen. It was also given the responsibility to advise the Government on matters relating to welfare of Ex-servicemen. The District Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board was asked to look after the welfare of Ex-servicemen at District level and to give effect to the policies laid down by Indian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board and State Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Board. |
