Sir,
This has reference to the news item ‘Rlys extend free travel to awardees’ (DE, Nov 2, 2017). It is heartening to read that Railways Ministry has taken the right decision of entitling all the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra awardees and widows of posthmous gallantry awardees to lifelong free travel facilities over the entire railways network except the Metro Railway, Kolkata, as admissible to the recipients of Param Vir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra awardees. With a free travel pass, they will now be able to travel free of cost with a companion in not only the existing Ist AC coaches but also executive class on all trains including the Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto. While Param Vir Chakra and Mahavir Chakra are wartime gallantary awards awarded to the Defence Personnel for displaying valour, sacrifice during wartime, Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra are peacetime national gallantry awards given to defence personnel or civilians for displaying courage, valour in times other than war. Thus, the awardees of these prizes are the bravehearts and pride of our country who risked their lives for the sake of their fellow countrymen. Thus, it is imperative that their services are recognised and they are treated with respect. In doing so, the Railway Ministry has honoured our bravehearts who rendered exceptional services in saving the lives and property of the people during natural disasters and other incidents and the Railway Ministry deserves appreciation for this good decision.
Yours etc…
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony,
Udhampur
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