Punjab govt restores special family pension for widows

Chandigarh, October 20

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday restored the special family pension for widows of government employees killed by extremists.

He also agreed to extend the Red Card scheme to families of police personnel killed during the militancy period in the state.

The special pension scheme was revoked by the erstwhile Akali government in 2016.

Singh announced that the pension under the scheme would be made available to widows till their death as against the earlier provision of it being provided until their remarriage.

Acceding to requests by families of police martyrs, the chief minister said they would get the Red Cards, so far being issued only to civilian victims of terrorism, with immediate effect.

He also promised the families that their demand for posting of their children, recruited in the armed police, near their home districts would be sympathetically considered by the government, an official statement said here.

Singh was speaking on the eve of Martyrs Day at the Punjab Police headquarters here.

Pointing out that the state had a total of 1,600 martyrs, including Special Police Officers (SPOs) and Home Guards, the senior Congress leader reiterated his government’s commitment to the welfare of the forces and their families, including the families of martyred personnel. — PTI