Punjab showed way in 1999 with policy on martyrs’ benefits

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, July 14

As debate rages over the distribution of government benefits between parents and widows of battle casualties, a decision made by the Punjab Government 25 years ago stands out.

Soon after the Kargil conflict in 1999, the Punjab Government, taking note of grievances that dependant parents were being left high and dry, devised a policy under which benefits paid by it were divided between the widow and parents of battle casualties.

Widow, parents share relief in 60:40 ratio

• After the 1999 Kargil conflict, Punjab Govt devised a policy under which benefits paid by it were divided between widow & parents of battle casualties
• It currently pays an ex gratia amount of Rs 1 crore to the family of battle casualties, of which Rs 60L goes to the widow and Rs 40L to the parents
• Decision was taken after parents claimed they had little or no source of income, with young widows separating from in-laws after taking benefits

“At present, the Punjab Government pays an ex gratia amount of Rs 1 crore to the family of battle casualties, of which Rs 60 lakh goes to the widow and Rs 40 lakh to the parents. In cases of unmarried soldiers, the entire amount goes to the parents,” says Brig BS Dhillon (retd), Director Defence Services Welfare (DDSW).

“There is a well-defined policy on this,” he says. Families of battle casualties are entitled to service and allied benefits by the Central Government, including ex gratia amount, residual salary, provident fund, gratuity, insurance, etc. In addition, state governments have their own policies to pay financial benefits, provide government job to a member of the family or render other assistance to kin of martyrs belonging to their state. These policies vary from state to state.

Under the existing regulations, statutory benefits from the Centre are to be paid to the next of kin as per records, which in case of married soldiers is the living spouse. State governments have the prerogative of formulating own policies since benefits are paid out of their resources.

“In the aftermath of the Kargil conflict, there were many instances where young widows of soldiers, who had received benefits, chose to separate from their in-laws for various reasons, be it to pursue a career or otherwise. This led to some bereaved parents approaching the political leadership, saying they had been dependent on their son and now had little or no source of income to sustain themselves,” says Brig Kahlon (retd).

Then CM Parkash Singh Badal and then Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh had sought Defence Services Welfare Department’s comments on the issue and a policy was formulated to divide the state government benefits between the widow and parents.