DESA NEWS LETTER� -� 2008

WAR WIDOWS/ WAR DISABLED AND RETIRED

DEFENCE PERSONNEL

  

1.      Widows Data Base.   Welfare and rehabilitation of widows has been an area of focus at IHQ, MoD(N)/ DESA.  A major impediment has been non-existence of data base of widows.  DESA has embarked upon compiling of the data base of widows.  1500 records have been compiled so far with the aim of reaching out to every widow for necessary help. 

2.    War Memorial Hostels.   The war memorial hostels (WMH) were constructed with a view to provide shelter to the children of war widows and war-disabled. Each Regimental Centre has been provided by KSB non-recurring grant for construction and furnishing of WMH. Recurring grants are provided to the WMH for wards of Defence personnel @ Rs 900/- pm and Rs 450/- pm for attributable and non-attributable cases respectively. Admission to WMH is open to the wards of all Defence personnel including those of Navy and Air Force in the following priority. The list of War Memorial Hostels is available in the Guide book/ RSB/ ZSB offices and is also placed at Appendix �A�. The grants provided are as follows:-  

          (a)   Wards of war widows               -   @  Rs 900/- pm                  

          (b)   Wards of war disabled              -   @  Rs 900/- pm 

(c)    Wards of attributable cases    -   @  Rs 900/- pm 

(d)   Wards of non attributable cases

                (death in service)                        -   @  Rs 450/- pm 

3.      Admission into MBBS/ BDS Colleges.  At present 25-29 seats in MBBS and one seat in BDS (subject to allotment by Min of Health) as Central Govt. nominee are available through KSB for wives/widows and wards of defence personnel in the following order of priority:‑ 

(a)   Killed in action. 

         (b)   Disabled in action and boarded out from service. 

(c)   Died while in service with death attributable to military service.

(d)   Disabled in service and boarded out with disability attributable to military service. 

(e)  Recipients of Gallantry/ Distinguished Service Awards. 

4.      Priority Allotment of Seats in IITs.    A joint entrance examination is conducted every year for admission to the IITs at Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Chennai and Roorkee and, the Banaras Hindu University Institute of Technology.  Two seats in each of the above institutes are earmarked for preferential allotment to children of the Defence/ Para military force personnel killed or permanently disabled in action.  Such candidates are, however, required to qualify in the joint entrance examination.

5.      Special Family Pension (SFP) on Remarriage of Widow.  Special Family Pension on remarriage of widow is regulated as follows:-

Commissioned Officers. 

(a)

If widow has child/children:-

 

 

 

(i) If she continues to support children after remarriage

(ii)   If she  does not support  children after remarriage

 

Full Special Family Pension to continue to widow.

Ordinary Family Pension (OFP) equal to 30% of emoluments last drawn to the remarried widow;

50% of the Special Family Pension to the eligible children.

(b)

If widow has no children

 

Full Special Family Pension to continue to the widow.

  PBORs

     (a)  If Special Family Pension is Sanctioned to the Widow.          Same provisions as applicable to officers.

     (b)  Where first life award is sanctioned to parents. 

          (i)   If widow continues to support   - 50% of SFP to parents

           children after remarriage or              50% of SFP to widows.

           has no issues.         

(ii)   If widow dose not support       -   Full SFP to parents and

           the children after re-marriage           Ordinary family pension

           but the children are supported          to widow.

           by the parents. 

          (iii)  If children are neither                 50% of SFP to parents

           supported by remarried widow         and 50% SFP to eligible

           nor by parents.                                 children. Ordinary family

                                                                    pension to the widow. 

          (iv)  On death or disqualification       Full SFP to widow.

          of parents and the widow supports                                    

          the children or has no issue.                                      

 

          (v)   On death or disqualification       Full SFP to eligible                                  

          of parents and the widow does         children. Ordinary family                                  

          not support the children.                    pension to widow.                          

 

6.   Welfare Measures for Widows.    Widows� rehabilitation has been a major thrust area and concerted efforts are continuously being made for their rehabilitation so that they can lead a dignified life. Though intensive measures have been instituted during the Year of the Naval Families - 2007 for their welfare, efforts are continuing with same intensity in the ensuing years as well. Various ongoing welfare measures initiated for the widows are as under:- 

(a)     Admission of Wards of Widows in Educational Institutions. DESA has coordinated admission of wards of widows in Army Public Schools, Lady Sri Ram College, Medical Colleges under ex-servicemen quota and other schools run by sister services.  

 

(b)     Rehabilitation Efforts. Concerted efforts have been by DESA towards rehabilitation of widows, wherein eleven widows have been provided various rehabilitation assistance viz; B Ed Course, computer training in both regular and advanced courses, opening of shops at their native places, provisioning of sewing machine to generate self-entrepreneurship etc. In addition, assistance has also been provided for admission of wards in professional as well as vocational courses run by NGOs. Besides, cases for admission in various vocational courses for four widows are also being pursued by DESA/ NHQ.  

(c)     Pension Modalities. This has been a crucial issue in majority of the cases. Non-familiarisation with the existing pension regulations has been major impediment. DESA has coordinated the cases of five widows. While one has been awarded Special Family Pension, other four cases are in final stage. This has been possible sheer due to continuous monitoring of cases by DESA with CDA and CABS. Two more appeals for grant of Special Family Pension have been received and same are under process.  

(d)     Provision of Tipper Trucks. This is a DGR/GOI sponsored scheme, where an investment of Rs 85,000/- fetches Rs 3,000/- per month for a period of five years. The invested money is returned after this period. A total of fifteen naval widows have been allotted Tipper Trucks under this scheme and three more cases have been taken up with DGR and allotment is expected shortly.  

(e)     Educational Assistance. DESA has embarked upon collection of used books from parents of students having passed 10th  and (10+2) and provide these books to needy children of the deceased naval personnel. Response to this scheme has been gradual yet encouraging with more people willing to donate books. So far, complete set of course and reference books have been handed over to six children and more requests for books are being received at this Directorate.  

(f)      Job Opportunities. Widows are also being encouraged to appear for job interviews for office jobs and in Retail Sectors for their rehabilitation.