The Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs

The Islamic Republic Martyrs Foundation (Bonyad Shahid) was founded in 1979 upon orders of Imam Khomeini with an aim to provide support for families of martyrs, self-sacrifices and war veterans. The main mission of the foundation was to provide services to the target groups.

Considering the increase in the target population over time and the growing need for ensuring health and support for war veterans as well as the foundation"s shortage of resources, management of the disabled war veterans" affairs war detached from the Martyrs Foundation and handed over to the Mostaz"afan Foundation. Hence the Mostaz"afan and Janbazan (the oppressed and the war veterans) Foundation came into being.

Following the release of the ex-prisoners of Iran-Iraq war, the Headquarters for Supporting Former PoWs was established. Later, the Martyrs Foundation"s section dealing with affairs pertaining to those missing in action (MiAs) and ex-prisoners of war separated and brought under the supervision of the headquarters.

Consequently in 1990, there were three distinct organizations namely

the Martyrs Foundation, the War Veterans (Janbazan) Foundation and the Headquarters for Supporting Former PoWs (Azadegan) to address the needs of the target groups.

Need for Merger

As time passed by, it was revealed that the problems in all three sectors had been eased to some extent, which meant a single body could be assigned with handling the responsibilities of all three entities. Not to mention that survey results indicated the cultural and services requirements of the three groups ought to be addressed by a single organization.

Having that goal in mind, the authorities of the triple entities requested the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for permission to merger the three foundations. Hence, the government placed on its agenda plans to integrate the three bodies.

The proposal to integrate the foundations was endorsed by the High Administrative Council in May 2004 and the endorsement set the conditions for the establishment of a new organization titled the

Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.

The main purpose behind the integration was to develop the structure of the bodies in charge of affairs pertaining to self-sacrifices by pooling resources such as workforce, credits and missions .The other goals included downsizing the government, as well as improving accountability and service-providing to target groups.

Integration Process

The foundation"s Central Headquarters for Overseeing Integration was founded through integration of the triple headquarters in October 2004 and all relevant affairs were delegated to responsible departments within the headquarters based on set schedules. After the mentioned departments were stationed in a new building, the headquarters of the three bodies were practically merged and assigned with a new set of responsibilities.

Hence, the organizational structure of the departments was shaped whit the activation of the respective general directorates. Once the managers were assigned to their posts, the Central Headquarters launched its executive operations whit its goals defined as managing current affairs as pre the endorsed schedules and carrying out integration process in other provinces.

The process was continued whit the formation of expert teams comprising representatives from each specific department in an attempt to put into effect endorsements of the Central Council and examine the conditions for integration in every province. With the completion of the activities of the Specialized Committee for Appointments and after appointment of the foundation"s new managers in different provinces, it was decided that the Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans Affairs would launch its unified operations across all provinces by March 2005.

In line with the same goals, the three bodies in all provincial cities shall be integrated by March 2006 with the cooperation and collaboration of the Central Council for Overseeing Integration, expert teams and provincial subsidiaries.

A main characteristic of the integration process has been to

employ scientific methods and principles, along with efforts to benefit from the experience of consultant organizations. As a result, the projected programs have been accomplished at high speed (one-third of the time estimated by the High Administrative Council) and efficiency, meeting all expert criteria. Given the special characteristics of the target groups namely the esteemed families of the martyrs, the exalted war veterans and the uncomplaining former PoWs, service-providing has not been disrupted by the integration; rather, in many fields, the quality and level of services have considerably improved.

Apart from the integration of triple entities, devising the comprehensive program on the informational structure of the foundation and its approval by the High Administrative Council as well as working out the 2005-06 budgets and plan program for integration are very fateful steps which shall cause development of the foundation"s structure to gain momentum.

Service-Providing

In view of the foundation"s cultural relationship with the target group, the following short- and long-term projects were enforced with an aim to rectify the methods for communicating with clients, benefit from the services of skilled individuals within the target groups and promote verbal interaction and accountability:

Great Family of Self of Self-Sacrifices

This scheme has been carried out with the intention of boosting coherence and congeniality among members of the target community, considering that they mostly have similar spiritual and financial expectations and requirements as well as addressing their concerns and problem.

Successful implementation of the scheme would help create understanding and confidence between the service- providers and the clients; and set the stage for providing them with full support.

First Nat"l Congress to Commend Self-Sacrifices

The congress was for the first time held on 6 Feb. 2004 concurrent whit the 26th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution whit more than 720 members of the self-sacrifices community and the foundation"s managers in attendance. Twenty selected individuals were awarded plaques of honor by the then president Mohammad Khatami during the ceremony.

Liaison Scheme

The main feature of this scheme is to set the condition for the self-sacrifices to play a broad- based role in general and specific activities related to services, culture and executive affairs.

As per the scheme, the outstanding and reliable members of the target group, who are motivated enough to assist in Service- providing projects are recognized and invited for cooperation.

The confidants, depending on the location of their residence, shall be assigned to as liaisons between a special field number of self-sacrifices and the foundation. The liaisons will meet and confer with the individuals as scheduled and will collect information specified in forms, which they will consequently convey to the foundation.

Nat" l scheme for meeting self-sacrifices

The scheme was implemented to honor and venerate self-sacrifices, based n which meetings were held with all self-sacrifices and their esteemed families in all parts of the country. The meetings were made from feb.31, 2004 until may 24,2005 designated by the high council of cultural revolution as the day of sacrifice, resistance and victory. Several civil and military organizations, ministries, nongovernmental organizations and the Islamic republic of Iran broadcasting all contributed to the scheme.

Nat" l victory celebration

The feast was held on May 24, 2005 in the international convention center to mark the anniversary of the liberation of khorramshahr. During the ceremony attended by a host of civil and military officials, the then president awarded the order of merit for sacrifice to 10 people. Also 8,000 martyrs were commemorated and families with three martyrs and more, three and two martyrs, and one disabled war veteran and two martyrs were commended at the ceremony. Chief Commanders and families of the martyrs of Beit ul-Moqaddas were also hailed at the event.

Comprehensive service-providing scheme

As per article 100 of the fourth development plan and following several expert sessions attended by respective authorities, the comprehensive scheme for service providing to self-sacrifices was drafted.

The scheme has envisaged all necessary services to be offered to the target group during the fourth development plan (2005-2010) within the framework of 11 main categories namely welfare facilities, health, housing and land, adjusting the urban and personal environments to meet the needs of the war disabled, cemeteries and memorials for martyrs, administrative and employment, education, legal assistance as well as cultural, artistic and sports facilities.

The scheme has reviewed and rectified the weak points in service-providing, and at the same time brought attention to new necessities and unfulfilled requirements. Solutions have been proposed for meeting the shortcomings.

Isaar Website

The website was launched on May 24, 2005 in a bid to disseminate information and ease the target group"s access to latest information about welfare, education and cultural, health and medical to them.

Those interested can refer to

www.isaar.ir to obtain information about the foundation’s circulars and latest news.

Center for Comprehensive Electronic Channeling of Resources

The plan to set up the center was devised and put into practice in May 2005 by employing modern communication and information with the target community.

The outstanding features of the scheme include respecting the clients, promoting the soundness of the administrative system, improving working techniques and system, enhancing accountability, downsizing and efficiently utilizing the workforce and finally improving management of the foundation.

Thanks to the scheme, all members of the target community nationwide can express their administrative requests by calling 1616 and receive special code numbers without the need for personal reference to the foundation. Then they will need to call again after the specified time to be informed of the measures taken to meet their requests. The most important outcomes of the center"s services are as follow:

Managing current affairs, problems and quality of services, managing case follow- ups until due results are obtained, addressing roots of problems, and making bureaucratic procedures more transparent.

A special role is played by the executive advisor who is linked to the person in charge of the case and is in an administrative status to demand accountability from director generals.

Hayat news agency

The prime purpose behind establishment of the news agency was to gather and disseminate any news that would help promote quality of life for the self-sacrifices. A whole host of news on economic, political, social and other fields of interest is offered at the news agency website which can be accessed at www.hayat.ir

Considering that self-sacrifices have had the largest share in upholding the nation s grandeur, the news agency contends they are entitled, more than any other group, to express their views on how best to maintain the prosperity, progress and dynamism of this country. Therefore, it will be an open tribune through which the target groups can put forth their valuable opinions and analyses.

Hayat news agency will make sure to closely study the news gathering procedures of domestic and foreign media. It will focus on its expansive field of interest while employing enthusiastic and active personnel to achieve a creditable and efficient performance. Hayat would warmly welcome all those who may be interested in cooperating with the agency.