M A I N   N E W S

Kin of Kargil martyrs honoured
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, Dec 1 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while speaking at a state-level function to honour the families of martyrs of Kargil and other operations with cash grants and government jobs here today said it was a matter of great concern that soldiers were remembered only at the time of war and any threat perception to the country.

“The Punjab Government has decided to honour 11 families of martyrs, who attained martyrdom during 1947 to 1998, every year with a cash grant of Rs 2 lakh. Though the monetary compensation does not commensurate with the loss of life but the state government is really committed to take care of their families,” the Finance Minister said.

The widows of martyrs who got a grant of Rs 2 lakh each were Ms Joginder Kaur, widow of Joga Singh, Shaurya Chakra, Ms Surinder Kaur, widow of Niab Subedar Avtar Singh, VC, Ms Amar Kaur, widow of Subedar Sampuran Singh, VC, Ms Banti widow of Sepoy Hans Raj, Shaurya Chakra, Ms Shakuntala Devi, widow of sepoy Sarup Singh, VC, Ms Kamlesh Kumari, widow of Niak Kesar Singh, Ms Savita Rana, widow of Lt Col Swarup Rana, and Ms Kamaljit Kaur, widow of Havildar Gurbaksh Singh.

Those who got appointment letters of a government job were Ms Rupinder Kaur, Ms Ravinder Kaur, Ms Paramjit Kaur, Ms Sukhwinder Kaur, Ms Manpreet Kaur, Ms Sukhjinder Kaur, Ms Balwinder Kaur, Ms Harnek Kaur, Ms Laxmi Devi, Ms Sita Devi, Sepoy Harbans Singh (disabled) and Lance Niak Jatinder Singh (disabled).

Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Minister for Welfare of Defence Services, also spoke on the occasion.