Initially, Vennila was told her husband died in the battlefield, but it turned out that he died of Septicaemia, an infection in the blood. That happened on March 18, 1999. Then began her struggle to collect her dues.
Vennila Dass was just past 17 when she got married. Being the wife of a soldier with the Indian army, she felt on top of the world.
She travelled with him across the country. Her first child, Catherine Jennifer, was born in Kashmir. Her son, John Mathew, was born in Bangalore. And her third child John Paul, in Rajasthan.
Paul was one-year-old when her husband Lance Naik Dass Prakash, then in Kashmir taking part in anti-insurgency operations in Poonj, died.
Initially, Vennila was told he died in the battlefield, but it turned out that he died of Septicaemia, an infection in the blood. That happened on March 18, 1999. Then began her struggle to collect her dues.
The army cleared the monetary compensations due, which ran up to several lakhs of rupees. “I signed and collected the cheque, but my in-laws took the money, and I don’t know what came of it. I studied only till class 7, and so did not have any say,” she said.
From the portion she was given, she bought a small house in Kammanahalli, and that is all she has to show for all the years her husband put in the army. “The army always takes care of its people. But I wish the civil society also took its responsibilities seriously. All government agencies have a 10% quota for ex-servicemen, widows of soldiers, and their dependents. Is this quota is ever filled?
“That’s another story,” said Colonel Anshu Trivedi, who heads the Army Welfare Placement Node, Bangalore. Although Vennila earns her husband’s full pension, it is still not enough to take care of the needs of her three children.
She had applied for a job, which she is entitled to on compassionate grounds. The Directorate of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement had taken it up with the government, but it has been 11 years and nothing has come of it yet.
Three months ago, she approached the ex-servicemen helpline office in Bangalore. Her poor educational background has their hands tied too.
They are still trying to find a job for her as a baby-sitter, helper, house-keeper, office peon, or as security personnel. “She is the wife of a soldier, who lived a life of honour. Now, she deserves a dignified life even without her husband,” said Colonel Trivedi. The attempt to give her that is still on.
If you want to help her or several other widows of soldiers like her, contact the Army Welfare Placement Node at 080-25580759.
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