War widows seek Rs 15 lakh remaining grant-in-aid

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20

Several war widows and their family members have approached the Congress government to fulfil its commitment to pay Rs 50 lakh grant-in-aid, in lieu of 10 acres announced in 1975. There are 100 eligible cases.

In 2017, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had directed the Sainik Welfare Department to expedite the disbursement of grant-in-aid.

After disbursing Rs 35 lakh in two instalments of Rs 20 lakh (October 2017) and Rs 15 lakh (July 2018), respectively, the state had not released the remaining payment of Rs 15 lakh over the last one year, said Gursewak Singh, a resident of Dulladi village in Nabha (Patiala). He said they had even met Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on the issue.

As per the government decision, the grant-in-aid was applicable to the dependants of martyred soldiers, besides permanently disabled soldiers of the 1962 Indo-China war, 1965 Indo-Pak war and 1971 Indo-Pak war.

“We belong to poor families and are tired of repeatedly visiting the government offices in Chandigarh. Since the family needs have grown with time, the government should release the remaining payment at the earliest,” said Surjit Kaur, a war widow from Bathinda.

The officers on special duty at the CM’s residence refer them to the office of Senior Adviser to the CM Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd). But it has also not helped them to get the remaining compensation.

The Punjab Government had in the past decided to give compensation in cash but it was rejected by the families since the amount was calculated at the rates prevalent in the mid-1970s. It came to around Rs 20 lakh per family. The residual agricultural land available for allotment is either locked up in litigation or in unauthorised possession, which rendered it practically impossible for the war widow allottees to take possession of.

Meanwhile, AAP Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema said the Congress government should be sincere towards the war widows and their family members in disbursing the entire amount promised to them. “It is because of them, we are free,” he added.