The Karnataka government on Saturday announced a Rs 1,000 per month hike for freedom fighters and a honorarium of Rs 2,000 each to those who participated in the Goa Liberation Movement, besides creating a war memorial here.
In his address after unfurling the tricolour on Independence Day at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the government has decided to enhance the honorarium to veterans of the freedom struggle from Rs 3,000 a month to Rs 4,000, with effect from August.
He said the government has also decided to pay a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,000 to freedom fighters of the Goa Liberation Movement from the month.
"Our government is building a war memorial in Bangalore to commemorate the memory and in honour of Indian soldiers who died in the World Wars and various wars so far," Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
"Karnataka is the first state to take such a step. This is a token of our state's appreciation and gratitude to the soldiers," he said.
Stating that 16 of the 533 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Kargil war were from Karnataka, he said an honorary grant of Rs five lakh is being paid on the occasion to the bereaved families in their districts on behalf of the government.
He added that the government is offering a monetary assistance of Rs 1 lakh each to soldiers and officers who sustained serious injuries in the Kargil war.
