State raises monthly grant for WWll veterans, widows

The state government has increased the monthly grant for World War ll (WWll) veterans and their widows  from a mere Rs1,275 to Rs3,000. The grants will be paid with effect from May 2011.

Of the 7,800 WWll veterans and widows in the state, 386 reside in Pune district. They will be receive the cheques at a ceremony at the collector’s office on March 9, Pune Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer Major (retd) Milind Tungar told DNA.

The WWll veterans have been the most neglected section of the army as they were demobilised by the British first and then later by the Indian Army after serving in the WWll and the India-Pakistan partition dispute. This deprived them of the pension from the Indian Army, the criterion of which is minimum service of 15 years in the Indian Army.

“A grant of Rs1,275 would hardly suffice the needs of the veterans or widows. As 2011 is the golden jubilee year of the state, we requested the government to increase the amount. Though the sum of Rs3,000 is less, it is better than what they were receiving so far,” Tungar said.

The WWll veterans and widows started getting grants from the state in 1989, when Sharad Pawar was chief minister. They received Rs600 till 2005. They will be receiving the cheques from May 2011 to March 2012 on March 9.