Changing mindset

Pension granted
This is with reference to ‘NGO offers to give Rs5,000/- pension to Army Major’s widow’, (DNA, September 22). In this connection it is clarified that Ms Pushpawanti is not a war widow.  Her husband, Major Dharam Chand died on March 1, 1967.  She did indeed represent for grant of Special Family Pension which was not found suitable and she was granted Ordinary Family Pension (OFP). Her appeal before the Appellate Committee was also found inappropriate since the officer died of a disease, which was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service.

As regards, her pension, the CGDA initially notified an OFP of Rs80 pm from March 2, 1967, vide PPO No.M/1685/67, which was revised to Rs216 pm, vide PPO No.M/1686/1967. After the Fifth Pay Commission, her pension was revised to Rs2,438 vide PPO No.M/VCPC/3112/1998 and to Rs3,840 vide Corr PPO No.M/MODP/9784/99.  Following the Sixth CPC recommendations, the PDA, SBI, Meerut revised her pension to Rs8,679 pm as per MoD’s letter dated November 11, 2008.  She has last drawn a pension of Rs11,717 pm as on August 30, 2010 (including Dearness Relief @35%). Ms Pushpawanti was further granted an additional Family Pension of Rs1,736 pm @20% from January 1, 2006 to February 28, 2010 and Rs.2,604 pm @30% from March 1, 2010 on account of her old age. Arrears amounting to Rs1,57,694/- have been credited to her bank account in September 2010.
— Samir Sinha, Deputy Director (Media & Communication), Ministry of Defence

Changing mindset
This refers to ‘Satara decides Nakusa is an unwanted name’, (DNA, December 19). It is shocking to note that girls are given such derogatory names by their parents. The zilla parishad’s initiative to rename the girls is to be appreciated. Though changing the mindset of society is a long journey, the government’s efforts are a step in the right direction. However, mocking the rural public for such an approach is not right. Many a time the urban and educated class too have a similar mindset. This is evident in the skewed sex ratio of the urban areas. All the government’s schemes to save the girl child can bear fruition only if the people decide to change their mindset towards girls.
—Seema Malghan, Thane