Samba, Oct 27: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several path-breaking decisions for martyrs’ welfare over the last nine years.
“Unlike the earlier governments, the government headed by PM Modi is deeply sensitive and concerned about the welfare of Armed Forces and their martyrs,” Dr Singh said, adding that no other government has come out with so many benefits and welfare measures to take care of the families of martyrs as initiated in the last more than nine years.
D Jitendra Singh was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Shaheed Gate (Gate in memory of Martyr) named after Colonel Narayan Singh (OBE) at Samba district of J&K.
“Though the loss of a precious life is irreparable to the family and the nation, the government is very sensitive to the welfare of the families of the martyrs and bears this responsibility with extreme care and concern,” he said.
The Union Minister said the government provides an ex-gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 45 lakh to the next of kin of the martyred soldiers. “In addition to this, Rs 8,00,000 is provided in the form of ex-gratia by the Army Central Welfare Fund. State governments also provide an ex-gratia amount as per their provisions. This is in addition to the Liberalised Family Pension and regular service benefits. In case of the death of Agniveer in the line of duty, the next of kin will receive over Rs 1 crore,” he said.
Dr Jitendra said that the welfare measures include reservation in jobs and financial support and scholarships to their families for various education needs of the dependent children. He said the reservation of seats has been ensured in Medical/Dental Colleges for the wards of defence personnel as Government of India nominees. A total of 42 MBBS seats and 3 seats in BDS courses are allotted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For this, priority is given to wards of personnel killed in action, he said, adding, “Reservation of jobs has also been provided in CPSEs and public sector banks. SAFAL outlets are provided to widows/ dependents of service personnel who passed away in service/ ex-servicemen in Delhi and NCR region.”
The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has reserved an eight percent quota for the allotment of LPG distributorship and petrol/diesel retail outlets for defence personnel which also include widows and dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died in the war. Rail travel concession identity cards are also issued to war widows,” he said.
Complimenting the organisers, ‘Ek Eint Shaheed Ke Naam’ institution, Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents the Udhampur constituency of J&K in the Lok Sabha, said, “We owe our secure borders to the supreme sacrifice of our Armed Forces soldiers. We all, the citizens of the country, are able to carry on with their daily life in peace thanks to the gallant soldiers who valiantly guard our frontiers throughout the year, 24×7.”
