The Punjab Government, in a befitting tribute to the officers of Indian Armed forces, doled out sops on the war widows. The Government on Wednesday announced to grant special financial assistance of Rs2,000 per month to war widows (veer naaris) in addition to their existing pension and other benefits. Besides, a free bus travel facility across the State has also been extended to them.
Announcing this while addressing a gathering during a function to mark 50th anniversary of 1965 Indo-Pak war at Amarkot village, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the Punjab Government was committed for ensuring the welfare of the families of brave hearts who had sacrificed their lives at the altar of motherland.
“In 1965 war, the Indian Army under leadership of lt General Harbaksh Singh displayed unmatched valour to combat Pakistan forces, which hardly finds any parallel in world history,” he said.
Badal said that probably, the Punjab Government was the only one in the country to hold first of its kind function to pay homage to the Armed forces.
“The State Government has recently decided to enhance the one-time grant for the recipient of Param Vir Chakra from Rs30 lakh to Rs2crore, Mahavir Chakra from Rs20 lakh to `1crore and Vir Chakra from Rs15 lakh to Rs50 lakh,” he said.
He added, “The amount of traveling allowance admissible to war widows has been enhanced from Rs150 to Rs500 per month. The amount of ex-gratia to all battle casualties in case of death has been increased from Rs2lakh to Rs5lakh; and in case of disability of 75 per cent and above, from Rs2lakh to Rs4lakh, and similarly, it has been increased from Rs1lakh to Rs2 lakh in case of disability of 50 per cent and above.”
Bemoaning that the quota of Punjab in Armed forces has been considerably reduced, the Chief Minister said that the State Government had taken massive steps to ensure that pristine glory of State in Armed forces was restored.
“The State Government has opened a network of C-PYTE centres to ensure that Punjabi youth are selected in Armed forces. In order to ensure that large number of Punjabis selected as officers in Armed forces, the State Government has opened Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy and Mai Bhago Armed Forces Institute,” he said.
Equating the hard working and resilient farmers of the State with the Armed forces personnel, Badal said that while the latter was safeguarding the borders of country, the former had made country self-reliant in food production.
“Despite of its enormous contribution, the farming community is facing one of the biggest crisis in the country,” lamented Badal, while vowing to take every step to safeguard their interests.
Chief of Western Command of Indian Army lieutenant General KJ Singh lauded the State Government for organising this mega event to pay respect to the martyrs and heroes of war.
General Singh said that India’s spectacular victory in battle of Asal Uttar was the real answer to the Pakistani Army, and in future also, if Pakistan does any mischief, Indian army will again give a befitting reply (asal uttar) to them.
State Chief Parliamentary Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha sought Indian army’s intervention for organising a special recruitment camp for border areas to provide opportunity to the area’s youth to serve the motherland.
He also demanded proper upkeep of roads by Border Road Organisation (BRO) and construction of bridges over Defence drains to connect the villages of area.