Taking note of the wide disparity in aid given by the States to gallantry award winners, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has asked the Defence Ministry to ensure uniformity so that “soldiers do not feel let down”.
These observations have been made in the draft report on the general defence budget, civil expenditure of the Defence Ministry (Demand no. 20) tabled in Parliament last week. “In some States like Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand, gallantry award winners are generously rewarded while in some others, they are paid a meagre sum,” the report noted.
While accepting that it is the prerogative of State governments to decide on the financial/cash awards, the report said that “nevertheless it would be in the fitness of things for the Ministry to impress upon State governments to follow a uniform method of providing monetary allowances”. The committee had made these recommendations in earlier reports as well.
Question of dignityThe committee further noted that soldiers being national heroes, the States should express conformity with view of the committee. This, it observed, would contribute immensely to the prestige and dignity of awardees. While State governments’ pay varies, the Centre has fixed uniform monetary allowance to the recipients of gallantry awards.
The State governments pay a one0time lump sum to recipients, in addition to annuity and other concessions, but these vary widely.
The committee also asked the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to enhance the assistance for World War veterans. This issue was first taken up in 2009.
