CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Defence and Security Relief Fund Committee which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here on Tuesday decided to give a bonanza of incentives to the dependents of serving Servicemen and ex-Servicemen in the State.

According to an official spokesman, the incentives include doubling the rates of additional pension and increase in the grant for marriage of daughters and also in the slab of income of war widows, ex-Servicemen suffering 100 per cent disability in war and war mothers for seeking financial assistance for repair and construction of houses and also increase in the grant-in-aid for industrial training centres being run by Sainik Pariwar Bhawan.

It was also decided to reorient the career guidance courses aimed at imparting training to the wards of ex-Serviceman for recruitment in the Army. It was also decided to increase the rate of additional pension admissible to the widows and wards of those ex-Servicemen who die in harness.

However, it would not be admissible in case of battle casualty and to those ex-Servicemen who have suffered physical disability.

Now, in case of a widow of an officer having children, the rate of additional pension per child would be Rs. 125 per month with a maximum of Rs. 375 per month. Similarly, in case of widow of a JCO having children, the rate of additional pension would be Rs. 100 per child with a maximum of Rs. 300 per month. In case of widows of other ranks, this rate would be Rs. 75 per child with a maximum of Rs. 225 per month.

These new rates would also be admissible to those ex-Servicemen who are 100 per cent disabled and have children. However, if such ex-Servicemen do not have any child, the rate of pension would be Rs. 100 per month till their death. These rates would apply to all ranks.

In case of widows who do not have children, the rate of pension would be Rs. 100 per month till her death or till she gets remarried. This rate would be same for all ranks.

These enhanced incentives would be effective from December 16, 2005, as the Chief Minster had already announced these enhancements on that day.

The Committee also decided to enhance from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 11,000 the amount of financial assistance being given for the wedding of daughters of war widows, those ex-Servicemen who have suffered 100 per cent disability in war and orphaned daughters of ex-Servicemen. It was also decided to increase from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,100 the amount of grant being given for the wedding of daughters of widows of ex-Servicemen except war widows.

It also decided to increase the slab of income from Rs. 36,000 to Rs. 75,000 in case of war widows, 100 per cent disabled ex-Servicemen in war and war mothers for seeking financial assistance for repair and construction of house.

It was also decided to increase from Rs. 80 lakhs to Rs. 1.30 crores the amount of grant-in-aid for industrial training centres being run by Sainik Pariwar Bhawan.

It was also decided to reorient the career guidance courses aimed at imparting training to the wards of ex-Serviceman for recruitment in the Army

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