The Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt has provided details of the compensation that the Central Government/Indian Army has provided to the family members of 107 Bn Territorial Army (11 Gorkha Rifles) who were martyred in the recent Manipur landslides.
Responding to a query by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, on “whether the Government has provided ex-gratia payments and financial compensation and emoluments to the families of Jawans of 107 Bn Territorial Army (11GR) who attained veergati in the recent Manipur landslide; and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore” the MoS Defence has responded with a detailed financial benefits provided to the families of the martyred jawans.
The families are entitled to Rs 50,00,000 under the Defence Salary Package Account (Personal Accident Insurance), Rs 25,00,000 under the Territorial Army Group Insurance Fund, Rs 10,00,000 under the Death cum Retirement Gratuity, Rs 7,00,000 under the Financial grant from Army Battle Casualty Welfare Fund, Rs 2 Lakh under Territorial Army Pariwar Kalyan Yojana, Rs 1 Lakh under the Financial grant from Army Battle Casualty Welfare Fund, Rs 30,000 from the Army Wives Welfare Association Grant from Headquarters Eastern Command, Rs 20,000 from the Territorial Army Group Headquarters Eastern Command Financial Grant, Rs 10,000 Funeral Grant from unit. They will also receive Rs 5 Lakhs Financial Assistance from Manipur State Government. In total, the financial assistance received by the family members of each JCO/Other Ranks stands over Rs 1 crore, and for Officers it stands at over Rs 1.25 crores. In addition the families will get ex-gratia as applicable, and Liberalised Family Pension as per the pay of the individual.
Reacting to the response, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said, “I am grateful to the Hon’ble Minister for issuing the detailed answer. I know, nothing can replace the loss of our brave jawans, but it is reassuring to note that their family members will have full support from the Indian government and the Indian army.”
He further stated, “when I reached Darjeeling to pay my respects to the family members of our brave jawans, I was shocked and hurt to see some mean spirited people trying to politicize the issue and spreading lies that the Central Government did not compensate the family members. The Indian Army has a set system under which they take care of the jawans and their family members, till date no one has been left wanting. Yet, coming from a region that is home to the largest numbers of serving and retired soldiers, the malicious rumor mongering by some of these politically motivated few individuals was hurting the sentiments of our jawans who are currently serving too. Hence, I asked this question in the Parliament so that everything would be on record.”
In addition to all these, the family members of these jawans, especially children can avail seat reservations in school, college admissions, and make use of other facilities provided by the Indian Army throughout their lives.
Source: Statement released from Office of Raju Bista