The Chandigarh Administration is set to increase the monthly allowance for Armed Forces personnel from the city who have received gallantry and distinguished service awards. The Zila Sainik Board (ZRB) has recommended a 50 per cent hike in these payments.
The monthly allowance is available to personnel who received gallantry awards before 2009. Those who received the awards after 2009 are eligible for a one-time financial grant instead.
Currently, recipients of the Param Vir Chakra receive Rs 41,580 per month. Maha Vir Chakra awardees get Rs 31,600, while Vir Chakra recipients receive Rs 18,295 every month. Sources said these rates were last revised in 2013.
Recipients of the Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, which are peacetime gallantry awards, also receive monthly allowances. Payments given to recipients of distinguished service awards are expected to be increased as well.
For awardees honoured after 2009, the Chandigarh Administration provides one-time grants. Param Vir Chakra recipients receive Rs 2 crore, Maha Vir Chakra awardees get Rs 1 crore and Vir Chakra recipients are entitled to Rs 50 lakh. These amounts were revised in 2022 to match the policies followed by Punjab and Haryana.
At present, around 100 pre-2009 beneficiaries are receiving these allowances in Chandigarh. Among them, the Kirti Chakra is the highest award held by any beneficiary. Some recipients of higher gallantry awards living in Chandigarh receive benefits from Punjab based on their domicile status.
During a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner-cum-President of ZRB, Nishant Kumar Yadav, it was also proposed to increase the one-time grant for Sena Medal recipients from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 21 lakh, bringing it in line with Haryana's policy.
The board also proposed a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for the families of defence personnel who die while in service and are classified as "Physical Casualty (Fatal)." Another proposal seeks to raise the Rashtriya Indian Military College scholarship from Rs 33,000 to Rs 50,000 per cadet annually.
Addressing the meeting, ZRB Secretary Col HS Ghuman (Retd) said the UT Administration has approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers belonging to Chandigarh in direct recruitment for the posts of constable in Chandigarh Police, jail warden and forest guard.
He further informed that Rs 2.07 crore has been approved for the renovation and repair of the Sainik Rest House in Chandigarh. Work has already started, and the upgraded facilities are expected to benefit veterans and their families visiting the city from different parts of the country.
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