Punjab offers gallantry benefits to all : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear veterans,
Punjab Govt has offered to give gallantary benefits to all
awardees from any state provided the concerned state is
not able to bear the same.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Punjab offers gallantry benefits to all
Vijay Mohan, Tribune News Service,
Chandigarh, March 6, 2010 Punjab, described as the sword
arm of the nation, has offered to extend certain benefits to
gallantry award winners across the nation regardless of
their domicile. Announcing this here today, Finance Minister
Manpreet Singh Badal said Punjab would be willing to pay
the same allowance being given to gallantry awardees
belonging to Punjab to those from any other state where
the local authorities are unable to do so.Addressing
members of the War Decorated India (WDI) at their
triennial convention here today, Badal also announced a
40 per cent increase in the allowances being paid by the
state government to gallantry awardees in Punjab.The
WDI is an association of recipients of the Param Vir Chakra
(PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Vir Chakra (VrC) and awards
given for gallantry in war or in the face of the enemy. It
does not include recipients of other awards for bravery.
About 200 gallantry award winners, their family members
or widows from al across the country attended the two-day
event here.Stating that his move does not have any political
connotations, Badal said that Punjab has been in the centre
of all wars and the state identifies itself very closely with the
armed forces. “It is not the question of money, but that of
the izzat of the soldiers. It is the least that we can do,” he
said. While some states like Punjab and Haryana have
extended considerable benefits to gallantry award winners
in the respective states, many other sates have neglected
them or are doling out a pittance. In some states allowances
have not been revised for decades and the allowance per
month even for the highest award is still in two digit figures.
Punjab pays a monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 to PVC
recipients and Rs 8,500 and Rs 5,500 to MVC and VrC
recipients respectively. Punjab has a tally of four PVCs,
52 MVC and 250 VrCs, out of which only 17 MVC winners
and 110 VrC winners are surviving.At present, there are
about 1,550 surviving soldiers who were decorated for
gallantry in various wars fought since independence. The
numbers are steadily decreasing. So far only 21 officers and
men have been decorated with the PVC, the highest award for
bravery in the face of the enemy. Out of these 14 were
conferred posthumously. Only three recipients of the PVC -
one pertaining to Siachen operations and the other two to
the 1999 Kargil conflict, are surviving. A major issue with
decorated soldiers is that when it comes to recognition to
grant of benefits, they get a raw deal vis-à-vis freedom fighters
or eminent sports persons. The ministries of home affairs or
sports are able to have their way when it comes to the welfare
of its beneficiaries, but the defence ministry on the contrary,
is unable to effectively pursue the interests of the veterans.
Also, a large number of cases where land was promised to
gallantry award winners or their widows are pending with
various state governments even decades after the awards were
announced. Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had
ordered a review of all pending land grant cases a few months
ago after some gallantry awardees had apprised him of the
situation.Punjab offers gallantry benefits to all- Also
announces 40 pc allowance hike for awardees from state.