Published 15:26 IST, October 5th 2019
Rajnath Singh approves increase in assistance for battle casualties
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday gave an approval to enhance the monetary assistance given to next of kin of all categories of battle casualties
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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave an approval to enhance the monetary assistance given to next of kin (NoK) of all categories of battle casualties. The amount has been increased from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh and will be granted under the Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund(ABCWF).
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has given in principle approval to enhancement of monetary assistance to Next of Kin (NoK) of all categories of Battle Casualty (BC) from Rs two lakh to Rs eight lakh.
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) October 5, 2019
The amount will be granted under Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (ABCWF).
The present structure of Monetary Assistance
The present amount for provision of financial assistance is of Rs. 2 lakh to fatal battle casualties which is 60% above disability, battle casualties invalidated due to disability and Rs. 1 lakh to disability less than 60%. The amount is given in addition to the liberalised family pension, financial assistance and Army group Insurance, Army Welfare Fund and ex gratia amount.
ABCWF instituted in 2016 following an incident in Siachen
The ABCWF was created under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890, a bank account for the same was also opened in Syndicate Bank, New Delhi. "The ABCWF has been set up under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW), Ministry of Defence after a large number of people offered to provide monetary assistance to the families of battle casualties following an incident in February 2016 at Siachen, wherein 10 soldiers were buried in an avalanche. The ABCWF was instituted in July 2017 and was implemented retrospectively with effect from April 2016," a release issued by the ministry of defence stated.
Rajnath Singh launches 'Bharat Ke Veer Fund'
This fund is in addition to the various welfare schemes for the NoK and children of battle casualties in the form of ex gratia that ranges from Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 45 lakh and Army group insurance ranging from Rs. 40 lakh to Rs. 75 lakh. In his previous term as Home Minister, Rajnath Singh had launched the 'Bharat Ke Veer Fund' to assist the families of soldiers and paramilitary personnel who were killed or injured.
(With inputs from ANI)
14:18 IST, October 5th 2019