Def Min seeks voluntary fund from govt staff for martyrs

An appeal seeking voluntary contribution of minimum Rs 200 has been issued to government employees by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare for welfare and rehabilitation of martyrs' families.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has forwarded the appeal to all the government ministries, an official order said.
There are about 49.26 lakh central government employees.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, under the Defence Ministry, has been working for the welfare and rehabilitation of war widows, wards of martyred soldiers and ex-servicemen (ESM) by providing financial assistance for their identified personal needs such as medical grant and orphan/disabled children grant.

This financial assistance is provided out of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) for which contributions are received from the general public on the Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) which is celebrated on December 7 every year.
"All citizens of India are requested to take the opportunity on this Flag Day on December 7, to connect with the cause of war-widows, ESM, wards of the martyred soldiers and contribute generously to the AFFDF in solidarity with our soldiers and their next of kin/dependents," the appeal said.

The contributions to the AFFDF are exempt from income tax, it said.
"DoPT is requested to kindly solicit the cooperation of the staff/officers of all ministries/departments to voluntarily donate a minimum amount of Rs 200 out of their salaries for the month of November 2017 so that the amount so collected is available before the Flag Day," the Department of ESM said in the order.

The request seeking voluntary contribution has been sent to all government ministries and departments by the DoPT.