Punjab Finance Department on Wednesday released Rs 20.30 crore as first installment of compensation for the widows of martyrs of the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars.
Compensation was also released to the dependents of martyrs and disabled soldiers of the 1962 and 1965 wars.
A Government spokesperson said the move would provide much-needed relief to 125 families who had been fighting for compensation for the last 41 years, ever since the government discontinued its policy of allotting 10 acres land to martyr families in 1976. While 1,500 families had availed the benefits of the earlier policy, 125 were left out and they had been fighting for compensation for the past many years.
These compensations have been given in lieu of the land, which these families would have got prior to the discontinuation of the policy in 1976. As per the decision taken by the Chief Minister, each family would receive a compensation of Rs 50 lakhs, to be paid in three installments of Rs 20 lakhs and two of Rs 15 lakhs each.