(a) the details of the scheme for allotting petrol pumps/gas agencies to the dependent of martyrs;
(b) the details of the petrol pumps/gas agencies allotted alongwith the amount paid to the dependents of martyrs of Kargil war, State-wise;
(c) whether the said benefits were provided to the dependents of all martyrs; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU)
(a) Details are as per Annexure.
(b) Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has commissioned 446 petrol pumps/gas agencies for the dependents of martyrs of Kargil war, out of which 303 are petrol pumps and 143 are gas agencies. Statewise figures are not maintained.
Widows/next of kin of Kargil martyrs have been paid an ex-gratia of ` 10 lakh each and have been sanctioned liberalized family pension based on the last pay drawn by the deceased soldier. They have also been given ` 5 lakh for housing and ` 1 lakh per child or ` 2 lakh per family for education of children. Further where next of kin are not parents. ` 2 lakh have also been paid as parental assistance. Statewise figures are not maintained.
(c) No, Madam.
(d) The benefits as at (b) above were exclusively for the dependents of martyrs of Kargil war as Operation Kargil was specifically notified as an international war by the Government.
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN THE REPLY GIVEN IN PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1278 FOR ANSWER ON 8.8.2011
The details of the scheme for allotting petrol pumps/gas agencies to the dependent of martyrs:
(i) The guidelines for allocation of Petrol pumps or Gas Agencies to entitled disabled ESM/Widows, dependents have been issued by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas vide its letter No. P-39012/1/1999-IOC, dated 9th October 2000. As per above guidelines, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has reserved 8% of Oil Product Agencies for the following five categories of Defence Personnel:-
(a) Prioriity I : Widows/dependents of Posthumous Gallantry Award winners.
(b) Priority II : War Widows/dependents.
(c) Priority III : War disabled (Disability 20% and above).
(d) Priority IV : Widows/dependents of those who died in harness due to attributable to Military Service.
(e) Priority V : Disabled in peace with disability 20% and above attributable to Military Service.
(ii) In addition to the above, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has also instituted Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak (RGGLV) Yojna vide its letter No. P-20020/22/2009-Mkt, dated 6th August 2009. As per the scheme 25% quota reserved for combined category which includes Paramilitary Personnel, Government Employees, Defence Personnel and Outstanding Sports Personnel. The entitled category of ESM/Widow/Dependent includes; War widows/dependents of those who died in war, War disabled/disabled on duty, Widows/dependents of those who died in harness due to attributable cause and Disabled in peace due to attributable cause.
(iii) A Special Scheme for allotment of Retail Outlet Dealerships (Petrol Pumps)/LPG Distributorship (Cooking Gas Agencies) to the widows / next of kins of the Defence Personnel killed in action in ‘Operation Vijay’ in the Kargil Sector was launched in the year 1999. A total of 500 Retail Outlet dealerships (Petrol Pump)/LPG distributorships (cooking gas agencies) were earmarked under the scheme. The scheme was formulated by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in consultation with Ministry of Defence. Under the scheme, the Director General Resettlement, in the Ministry of Defence was to recommend to Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas the names of the beneficiaries alongwith the locations where the dealerships/distributorships were proposed to be setup. Thereafter, allotments were approved by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas subject to the conditions that the locations opted for were commercially viable.