NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted the Army personnel on the 70th Army Day.

“Greetings to the valiant men and women of the Indian Army, to veterans and to families of those who have worn the uniform. You are our nation’s pride, the sentinels of our liberty. Citizens sleep securely knowing you are ever awake and ever vigilant,” the President tweeted.

The Prime Minister also took to twitter and hailed the soldiers for putting the nation first and said the country had unwavering trust and pride in the Army.

“Our Army always puts the nation first. I salute all those great individuals who sacrificed their lives while serving the nation. India will never forget our valiant heroes,” Modi said.

“On Army Day, I convey greetings to the soldiers, veterans and their families. Every citizen has unwavering trust and pride in our Army, which protects the nation and is also at the forefront of humanitarian efforts during times of natural disasters and other accidents,” he said.

The celebrations mark the day when Field Marshal KM Cariappa took charge as the first Indian Army chief in 1949, succeeding General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India.

The Indian Army will launch a new online grievance redressal system which will be based on Aadhaar number, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Monday.

“A new Aadhaar-based mobile application is being developed, through which every soldier will be able to post his grievances online, and it would be addressed as soon as possible,” the Army chief said at the 70th Army Day parade.

“It will also have other useful information for the soldiers. It will be launched soon.” He also said that the Army Welfare Education Society has approved a plan for two residential schools with a capacity of 2,000 students.

One of the two schools will be near Mamun Military Station in Pathankot. A law college will also be started near Pune by the Army.

The Army chief last week said the Army is working on evolving a better system for providing aid to the children of martyrs and those disabled in action, after the government put a Rs10,000 cap on the monthly fund.

An order dated Sept.13 by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare of the Defence Ministry said the fee for tuition and hostel expenses for children of martyrs would be capped at Rs10,000 per month, as per the recommendations under the 7th Pay Commission. The order came into effect from July 1.