The Fiji Servicemen Aftercare Fund, in collaboration with the Ministry of Veteran Affairs, is actively seeking to revitalize its operations to better serve veterans across the nation. This initiative comes ahead of the anticipated 2025-26 national budget announcement, where the Fund has submitted a detailed proposal outlining its plans for improvement.
Fund Secretary Serevi Vananalagi highlighted that the current state of the Fund is not fully operational or self-sustaining, lacking essential resources such as company vehicles and assets. However, Vananalagi expressed optimism for the future, indicating that by the next financial year, they aim to establish a director role specifically for veteran affairs and set up four offices in different divisions to streamline services for veterans nationwide.
This initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing veteran welfare, as previously emphasized by Minister for Veteran Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua. Recent governmental efforts have included increased funding for the Fiji Servicemen’s Aftercare Fund and a reassurance that no cuts to veterans’ benefits will occur. Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad confirmed a 15% increase in allowances for veterans as part of the 2023/24 budget, reflecting the government’s dedication to providing comprehensive support.
As the Fund looks to strengthen its financial standing and operational capacity, it also hopes to foster partnerships with regional and international veteran affairs institutions, further broadening the resources and opportunities available to veterans in Fiji. The Fund’s revitalization efforts could provide a pathway to becoming more self-sustaining and reduce reliance on government allocations.
These concerted steps towards improving the welfare and services for veterans exhibit a promising trajectory for the Fiji Servicemen Aftercare Fund. With the government’s commitment to enhancing social welfare for veterans, there remains a hopeful outlook for this community, which has played a crucial role in defending the nation.
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