Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today enhanced the one time grant for the recipient of gallantry awards in the armed forces.
Badal announced to raise the grant for Param Vir Chakra from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 2 crore, Mahavir Chakra from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore and Vir Chakra from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls here, the Chief Minister also enhanced the amount of travelling allowance admissible to war widows from Rs 150 to Rs 500 per month with immediate effect.
Likewise, he also announced to increase the amount of ex-gratia to all battle casualties in case of death from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh and in case of disability of 75 per cent and above from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh and similarly it has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in case of disability of 50 per cent and above.
In a major relief to the families of ex-servicemen, the Chief Minister also declared to grant dual pension to the widows of ex-servicemen as these widows were earlier only entitled to either army pension or Punjab government pension.
The Chief Minister also announced to establish old age home for the ex-servicemen in Mohali, for which the GMADA has already earmarked 1.5 acre land.
Earlier, welcoming the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister said he was indebted to him for accepting his personal invitation for the inauguration of this institute, first of its kind in Asia.
He said the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' given by former Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shashtri aptly conformed to the dedicated soldiers and hardworking farmers of Punjab as both played a vanguard role in safe guarding our borders from external aggression and making our country self reliant in food production.
"That's why Punjab was known as the food bowl and sword arm of the country," said Badal, adding more than 80 per cent of martyrs who sacrificed their lives belonged to Punjab and several historic movements like Gaddar, Babbar Akali, Kuka were started from here.
He also mentioned about contributions of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Kartar Singh Sarabha and Udham Singh.
CM also recounted supreme contribution made in the Indian army by the two great Generals of the country Air Marshal Arjan Singh & Field Marshal Gen Manekshaw.
He also recalled the contribution made by General Jagjit Singh Arora who emerged as a hero in the Bangladesh war.
