Nothing bodes worse for a nation that is not thankful to its war heroes, war widows and the kith of them. We are a nation beset with two inveterate hostile neighbours who want to inflict a thousand cuts on our country’s body to bleed it. We had to fight at least four wars against them to preserve our territorial integrity and national sovereignty. But let us ask a question. Who made sacrifices of their precious lives and let us live and work in peace and independence. What made them sacrifice their lives so that our rulers, ministers, bureaucrats and policy planners live in grandiose style of life and then dictate terms and decisions affecting not only the masses of toiling people but also those who won laurels on the field fighting the enemy, who laid down their lives fighting the enemy and those whose widows are passing their lives bereft of their life partners. Do we realize the meaning of all this?
It is shameful that the Government authorities and functionaries should behave in a scurvy manner when the question of payments of the unpaid annuity of year 2016-17 to the gallantry award winners of the State and their widows or next of kin comes up. We have a Rajya Sainik Board which deals with matters pertaining to the army personnel and their widows and wards. The simple purpose for which the Board has been constituted is to care for the welfare of the soldiers and their families. It has to be remembered that our State has fair representation in armed forces and our soldiers and regiments have won many awards and laurels for making huge sacrifices in fighting to preserve the security of the country. Yes despite this our Rajya Sainik Board receives lowest allocations in comparison to the neighboring States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Rajasthan. Out of a sum of 11 crore annual budget for the Sainik Board rupees 1.3 crore go as annual annuity, relief to the widows of war heroes and karamcharis. But the Government is so grudging that it does not release even this paltry sum within time. It should have released the money in April but now that almost half of July is about to finish, funds have not been released. State Director for the War Decorated India, Col Dr Veranda K Sahi called on the Director Rajya Sainik Board to pursue the question of the Government of the State showing least concern for Vir Chakra awardees, war veterans and the widows of war heroes.
He brought home to the Rajya Sainik Board how the State Government was quite apathetic to the needs of the war veterans and shows no interest in releasing the annual equity in their favour. It appears that this is a recurring yearly problem with the Sainik Board and that a permanent solution ought to be found. The question is that of release of funds to the beneficiaries in time. We think that the Rajya Sainik Board should be provided more freedom of handling the affairs of the Sainik Board particularly financial freedom within limits. There needs to be amendment in the authority and powers of the Director Rajya Sainik Board so that he is able to release the money and disburse it among the beneficiaries in time. It is cynical to make the Vir Chakra heroes to move from pillar to post to get their earned money. Is this showing respect to our jawans and armed forces? This sordid story must come to an end and the dignity of our veteran soldiers and war heroes has to be maintained at any cost. The nation is grateful to those who are creating difficulties for them are doing great disservice to the freedom of India.
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