Hooda offers war heroes annuity hike

By Daily PostBhiwani
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced to increase the amount of lumpsum financial assistance and annuity of the gallantry award winners of the state. He also announced to get a survey conducted to assess repair and renovation of all the existing Sainik rest houses to be done as per their need and to construct a new Sainik rest house at Dadri.

The CM was speaking as chief guest in the 30th annual Sammelan of All India Ex-services Welfare Association organised at new Anaj Mandi, Dadri, on Sunday. He said the state government had decided to increase the award money of the winners of Paramvir Chakra and Ashok Chakra from Rs 25 lakh each to Rs 31 lakh each, of Mahavir Chakra and Kirti Chakra from Rs 15 lakh each to Rs 25 lakh each and of Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra from Rs 10 lakh each to Rs 15 lakh each.

Similarly, the amount being given to the winners of Vayusena medal, Navsena medal and Sena medal had also been increased from Rs five lakh to Rs 7.50 lakh and the amount for Mention-in-dispatches from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 5.50 lakh.

He said the annuity for the winners of Paramvir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Mahavir Chakra had been increased to Rs 2.50 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.90 lakh respectively.

Besides, winners of Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra and Sena medal would get annuity of Rs 1.50 lakh, Rs 70,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively. Annuity for mention-in-dispatches had been increased to Rs 20,000, he added. Hooda said it was a matter of great pride that Haryana with 1.37 per cent of the geographical area of the country was contributing a lot to the Armed Forces of the country.

Every tenth soldier of the Armed Forces belonged to Haryana. The youth of Haryana were safeguarding the borders of the country and the farmers of this sacred land were producing foodgrains for the teeming millions. Despite better availability of employment in the state, the youth of Haryana preferred to join Army.

The number of serving personnel and ex-servicemen of the state stood at 19.38 lakh. The state government was committed to the welfare of serving personnel, ex-servicemen and their dependents. For the welfare of these persons, the state government had made a provision of Rs 33 crore in the annual budget for the year 2011-12.

Citing details of the incentives being given to the serving personnel and ex-servicemen by the state government, Hooda said ex-servicemen above the age of 60 years and their widows, who are not getting any pension, were being given financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month.

The war widows were being given a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month besides their monthly pension. The ex-servicemen, who took part in World War II and who were not getting any kind of pension, and their widows were being given a financial assistance of Rs 1500 per month by the state government. The blind ex-servicemen and handicapped ex-servicemen, who were not getting any kind of pension, were also being given a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000.

Hooda said 10 per cent residential plots floated by HUDA and 5 per cent houses built by Haryana Housing Board (HHB) have been reserved for ex-servicemen and serving personnel. Defence colonies were being set up at Rohtak, Rewari, Jhajjar, Hisar, Narnaul, Bahadurgarh, Jind, Dadri and Karnal by HUDA.
Hooda offers war heroes annuity hike