Hyderabad, Jan 17 (Maxim News): Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday made a statement in the state Assembly on Sainik Welfare and Government Programmes.
Army personnel are discharging their duties of protecting our nation’s geographical integrity and sovereignty. Even in the high altitude places where there is no oxygen, where there are temperatures that would freeze the blood or the places where the heat was just enough to burn the bodies, the jawans despite all odds beating the weather conditions and are discharging their sacred duties.
It is due to the selfless sacrifices that these Jawans are making, people in the country are able to lead safe and secured lives, which are protected. These great human beings often lead a life away from their dear ones, families, villages and towns and spend their a good amount of their lives for the safety and security of the nation. Not only on the country’s borders, whenever there is a natural calamity or disaster, these brave Jawans jump into the fields and take up rescue and rehabilitation works. They are toiling each day keeping the safety and security of the nation as first putting their own lives and of their dear families on the back burner. Under such a scenario, it is the bounden duty of the society to take care welfare of the Army personnel and their families and should consider it as an act of gratitude towards the brave soldiers, Rao said.
The Army Welfare activities taken up by the Telangana state should be Number 1 in the country and should be like a role model for others. For this, we have enlisted the help of Employees and Public representatives voluntarily. With the help from these sections we are introducing a Comprehensive Plan for the Army Welfare. Under this programme, Army personnel who are in the service, those became martyrs, those who became medically unfit and handicapped and retired Army personnel will get benefited.
Fund for the Army Welfare:
For the first time in the country, we are creating a Fund for the Army Welfare. Every year, we will collect Rs 80 Core towards this Fund. This Fund will be spent on the welfare of the Army personnel and their families. Responding positively to the call given by the government, Ministers, Legislators, Members of Parliament and Employees came forward to contribute their lot. The Chief Minister and Ministers will contribute Rs 25,000 per year, MLAs, MLCs and MPs will contribute Rs 10,000 each per year towards the Army Welfare Fund. The employees have decided to forgo their one day wages. I take this opportunity to thanks elected representatives, employees for coming forward to show their respect towards the Army personnel, he stated.
The Centre is giving pensions to the retired army personnel and they are eligible for double pension if they taken up any state government job after the retirement. The same facility is not extended to the Army personnel’s widows. The Army widows are eligible for one pension only either from the centre or the State government. But in our State we have extended the double pension scheme to the retired Army Personnel and their widows.
Rs 2.25 Cr Award to TS Army Personnel:
The Centre and State government’s are giving cash rewards to the personnel who have received the Gallantry awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Veer Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Sourya Chakra, Sena Medal etc., Telangana State government has decided to give a substantial cash award to the gallantry awardees much more than that is being offered in other States. The Punjab government is giving Rs 2 Cr as cash award to those received Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra. The United AP government has announced Rs 10 Lakh each for the same award. Now we have decided to pay Rs 2.25 Cr to the Telangana Army personnel who get these awards. For Mahavir Chakra and Kirti Chakra awardees, the Punjab government is giving Rs 1 crore each which is the highest in the country. United AP used to give Rs 8 Lakh. The Telangana government will give Rs 1.25 Cr each to the Army Personnel from the State who gets these awards, he informed.
For Vir Chakra and Sourya Chakra awards, the Punjab government is paying Rs 50 Lakh, each which is so far the highest in the country. The United AP used to give Rs 6 Lakh. Now the Telangana government is giving Rs 75 Lakh each for these awardees. For sena Medal awardees, the Haryana government is giving the highest amount of Rs 21 Lakh each and in United AP the amount was Rs 23, 250 only. Where as now, the Telangana state government will pay Rs 30 Lakh. Similarly, for mention in dispatches awardees, Punjab and Haryana governments are giving Rs 10 Lakh each while in United AP it was Rs 12,000 each. The State government has decided to give Rs 25 lakh per awardee. For the Athi Visishta Seva medal, the cash award per awardee in Kerala is Rs 20 Lakh in United AP it was Rs 27,000 and now in TS it will be Rs 25 lakh. For Visishta Seva Medal, the cash award in Kerala is Rs 16 Lakh, in United AP it was Rs 75,000, in TS it will be Rs 20 Lakh. For Seva medal Kerala is giving Rs 2 Lakh, United AP Rs 34,000 and in TS it will be 5 Lakh, he further informed.
There is an anomaly while paying compensations to the Army personnel who died in the war front and those lost thier lives for other reasons. There is also an anomaly in the faculties provided for these two categories. The TS government has decided to apply uniform compensation and other facilities to the Army personnel died in action and those lost their lives for other reasons such as accidents, illness etc.,
Sainik Welfare Boards:
“We are strengthening the Sainik Welfare Boards both at the State and District levels. These Boards will also be set up in the new Districts. All welfare programmes will be implemented through these Boards.
Reservations for Childrens:
For the children of the Army Personnel reservations will be provided in the government run residential Schools. The state government will accord recognitions to the Army Schools. Encouragement will be given to Scouts, Guides and NCC in the educational Institutions. Rs 2 lakh each is given to those secured admission in the National Defence Academy.
Army School at Warangal:
“I am pleased to announce that the centre has agreed to set up an Army School. We have decided to have this school in Warangal and a MoU in this regard will be signed shortly”, he informed.
No RTA Life Tax:
Army personnel are on the move due to their job requirements. Each time they move from one State to the other they are made to pay the Life Tax on their Vehicles. In Telangana State, we have decided not to collect any vehicle tax from the Army Personnel if they have paid the tax already.
2 % reservation in 2BHK:
We have also decided to exempt Army Personnel and their spouses from paying House Tax on their immobile property. Two per cent reservation is given to the Army Personnel in the 2BHK Housing.
Doubles Pension:
Pension given to the Army personnel, who served in the World War II, is enhanced from Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 6,000 per Month.
Action will be taken to hike the salaries of the army personnel who are working as Special Police Officers and their salaries will be paid regularly on par with others, he informed.
Advisory Council for Sainik Welfare :
An Advisory Council for Sainik Welfare is formed in the State to suggest more measures for the welfare of the Army Personnel from time to time. This Council will coordinate with the state government on a regular basis for the welfare of the Army personnel. The Telangana government is committed to make Army personnel, those who are in the service, retired and their families lead happy and comfortable lives in the State with respect, he further added. (Maxim News)
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