Maharashtra government okays four-fold hike in aid for kin of martyrs

MUMBAI: Ahead of state assembly elections, Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a four-fold increase in financial aid for the families of martyred soldiers and a similar increase for injured soldiers.
Currently, families of martyred jawans get Rs 25 lakh as ex-gratia, but they will now get Rs 1 crore. Similarly, jawans who suffer injuries get between Rs 8.5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh depending on the injuries.The amount has been raised to Rs 20-60 lakh.
"This government has changed another important norm. Families of these soldiers need not come to the government office for the aid. Officers will reach out to the families and initiate the process," an official said. The official added that in 1999, the compensation amount was Rs 2 lakh and it was subsequently increased over time.
According to a government resolution, families of martyred soldiers were to get Rs 25 lakh as a one-time compensation and injured soldiers were to get Rs 5 lakh if the disability ranged between 1% and 5%, Rs8.50 lakh if the disability ranged between 26% and 50% and Rs 15 lakh if the disability was between 51% and 100%. According to the state cabinet decision, which will be implemented with effect from January 1, 2019, the one-time compensation has now been increased to Rs 1 crore if a jawan is martyred while defending the country.