Govt hikes ex gratia for its bravehearts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31

The Haryana Government has enhanced the ex gratia to be given to the families of armed forces personnel, including the Army, Navy and the Air Force, who die in harness or get disabled while performing official duties in war, terrorist or militant attacks, border skirmishes and United Nations Peacekeeping operations.

A spokesperson said the ex gratia admissible under the policy would be given in all cases of battle casualty declared by the defence authorities, irrespective of any operation or any specified area of operation.

Also, the government has enlarged the scope of payment of ex gratia to include contingencies such as MT accident, heart attack, air crash, accident on sea and natural calamities.

He said the ex gratia for casualties that occurred on or after February 19, 2014, would be Rs 20 lakh in case of death in war and action against militants and terrorists and in border skirmishes as against Rs 2.5 lakh from April 1, 1999, to February 18, 2014.

Similarly, Rs 20 lakh will be given in case of death during IED blast against Rs 2 lakh earlier. Likewise, Rs 20 lakh will be given in case of death declared as battle casualty by the defence authorities, irrespective of operation or specified area ofoperation.

For defence forces personnel posted in the United Nations Peacekeeping and for accidents like air crash, MT accidents, accidents on sea, heart attack and loss of life during natural calamity, no ex gratia was paid earlier.

He said that ex gratia of Rs 15 lakh would be given in case of 75 per cent disability and above for eligible persons instead of Rs 1 lakh given earlier. Similarly, Rs 10 lakh would be given in case of disability of 50 per cent to 74 per cent for eligible persons instead of Rs 75,000 and Rs 5 lakh in case of disability of 25 per cent to 49 per cent for eligible persons instead of Rs 50,000 given earlier.

It will be applicable to those who are domiciles of Haryana at the time of joining the service. Previous cases would not be reopened.