Question : Financial Assistance to Widows of Ex-Servicemen

(a) the total number of widows of ex-servicemen in the country, rank and State-wise;

(b) whether the Government advances any monthly assistance or one time specific purpose grants to these war widows or their dependent children;

(c) if so, the details of the monthly assistance as well as grants and the total number of widows / dependent children who receive these pensions / grants on monthly basis, rank-wise;

(d) whether the Government regularly revises the monthly assistance provided to these widows; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) State-wise and Rank-wise details of widows of Ex-servicemen in the country are at Annexure-A.
(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. Government provides monthly assistance and one time grant under various welfare schemes to the war widows and their dependent children through Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat. The details of monthly assistance / grants and rank-wise number of widows/ dependents who received this assistance are at Annexure-B & C respectively.
The widows/dependent children of personnel who were killed in action have also been granted liberalized pensionary awards which include family pension, death gratuity and ex-gratia compensation. Pension is paid on monthly basis whereas death gratuity and ex-gratia compensation are one-time payments.

(d) Yes, Madam. Need based revision is undertaken by the Government.
(e) The Government has revised the following monthly assistance/ grants:-
(i) Penury Grant : From Rs. 30,000/- (one time) to Rs. 1000/- per month for life time in October, 2011 and Rs. 4000/- per month from Rs. 1,000/- per month w.e.f. 1.4.2017 in June, 2017.
(iii) Disabled Children Grant: From Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/- per month in October, 2011.
(ii) Education Grant: From Rs. 200/400/600 per month to Rs. 1000/- per month in October, 2011.
(iv) Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme: From Rs. 1250/- and Rs. 1500/- per month to Rs. 2000/- and Rs. 2250/- per month for boys and girls respectively w.e.f. 2012-13.
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