The Government has restored supply of rations to Defence officers posted in peace areas following a recommendation by the Defence Ministry.
The scheme in practice since mid 1980s was scrapped in 2017 following a recommendation by the Seventh Pay Commission and in lieu officers were paid Rs 117 per day.
Doing away with providing rations had led to discontentment amongst the armed forces and taking note of it the Government gave the nod for the Defence Ministry proposal for restoration of ‘ration in kind,’ officials said on Tuesday.
Rations include butter, eggs, cheese, pulses and vegetables besides other such items.
Incidentally, this is one of the first decisions taken after Defence Minister Rajnath assumed charge.
The provision of ‘ration in kind’ was earlier applicable to junior officers and later allowed for all officer ranks.
The officers were given a choice to opt for allowance instead of rations in kind by very officers opted for it, sources said. They also said the Defence forces had appealed for restoration of the scheme soon after it was scrapped in 2017.
However, officers deployed in operational areas continued to get ration in kind besides those posted in peace stations in counter-insurgency areas.