Govt lists series of facilities for martyrs’ kin

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 25: The Government has announced series of facilities for the kin of Army soldiers, who were martyred while fighting enemies on the borders, anti-militancy operation and other such acts, which included MBBS/BDS seats in the Government colleges every year, Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) and various other grants.
This information has been provided by the Defence Ministry in response to a written question by Prabhat Jha in Rajya Sabha.
The Defence Ministry document listed series of measures that have been taken for the wards of martyr soldiers to ensure that they didn’t suffer in their education after the death of their family members along the borders or hinterland while fighting militants.
“The wards of martyr soldiers killed in action are now being given first priority for MBBS/BDS seats reserved for the Defence personnel. About 20 to 24 seats of MBBS and 2 to 3 BDS seats are reserved annually for the defence personnel in various Government Medical and Dental Colleges,” it said.
Apart from this, the Defence Ministry document revealed that the kin of Defence/Coast Guard personnel killed in action are the first priority for award of Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme under which 5500 scholarships are awarded annually to the wards of ex-servicemen/widows in order to support their higher technical/ professional education.
Under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, the youths are paid maximum part of their fee for all kind of courses including Engineering, Medical etc.
A recurring grant of Rs 1350 per month is being provided to War Memorial Hostels for the children of war widows and war disabled, it said.
The Defence document said the children of martyr soldiers, missing or disable in action before the officer ranks are being provided with full reimbursement of tuition fee (capitation fee and caution money not included) levied by the educational institutions concerned (including charges levied for the school bus maintained by the school or actual fare paid for railway pass and bus fare certified by the head of Institutes).
Among other facilities provided to the martyrs’ kin for education included full reimbursement of hostel charges for those studying in boarding schools and colleges, Rs 1,000 per annum per student of the amount claims by the students, whichever is less as cost of books/stationery, Rs 1700 at the maximum during first year and Rs 700 for subsequent years per annum per student of the amount claimed by the student, whichever is less as cost of uniform wherever compulsory and Rs 500 for first year and Rs 300 for subsequent years per annum per student or the amount claimed by the student, whichever is less for clothing.
These educational concessions are admissible only for undertaking studies in Government/Government aided schools/ educational institutes/Military/Sainik Schools and other schools and colleges recognized by the Central or State Governments including the autonomous organizations financed entirely by the Centre and State Governments.
The document said reimbursement of Children Education Allowance (CEA) will have no connection with performance of the child in his/her class, which means that even if a child fails in a particular class, the reimbursement of CEA will not be stopped.
As far as healthcare of the family members of martyrs is concerned, it said the Central Organization, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme provides for free healthcare to all dependents of the martyrs.
“The dependents of martyred soldiers are also exempted from payment of one time contribution for becoming ECHS members,” the document said.
It added that an institutionalized mechanism at all levels down to the Unit at Services Headquarters exists to ensure that families/dependents of martyred soldiers are provided with adequate financial assistance. The Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat, an attached office of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department is engaged in implementing other facilities/ welfare measures for ex-servicemen including martyred soldiers.

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