Punjab raises PVC grant from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 2 cr

Vijay Mohan & Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 25

The Punjab Government has announced a major hike in annuity, ranging from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 1.7 crore, for gallantry award winners belonging to the state.

A recipient of Param Vir Chakra, highest gallantry award in the country, would get a lumpsum Rs 2 crore, up from Rs 30 lakh paid currently. Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra recipients would be given Rs1 crore and Rs 50 lakh instead of existing Rs 20 lakh and Rs 15 lakh.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced these benefits here today during the inauguration of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Badal said ex gratia admissible to war casualties had been raised from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

In case of 75 per cent and above disability, the relief had been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh while the amount for disability above 50 per cent had been doubled to Rs 2 lakh, he said.

The Chief Minister said the widows of martyrs would now on get dual pension— currently they are entitled for pension either from the Army or the Punjab government. He said their travelling allowance too had been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 500 a month. He said an old age home was being built for the ex-servicemen in Mohali, and that the GMADA had already earmarked 1.5 acres for the project.

Badal urged Parrikar to increase the strength of women officers in the armed forces. He also raised concern over the “consistent decline” in intake of officers and personnel of other ranks in the Army from Punjab.

Maj Gen Rakhi Singh of the Army Medical Corps, senior-most serving woman officer, encouraged the girls to take up a career in the armed forces.