Martyrs’ halo does little to alleviate kin’s suffering

Vijay Diwas, which marks India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war which resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh, was observed at the yet-to-be-completed National Military Memorial on Thursday.

On the occasion, Lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde presented a cheque of Rs1 lakh each to the kin of three soldiers — rifleman KS Ravindra, sapper Philomin Raj of Madras Engineering Group &  Centre and constable Bheema Shankar Hadapad of No 200 Battalion, BSF — who lost their lives this year.

The relatives of the dead soldiers, though happy with the compensation, were dissatisfied due to the government’s apathy. Ravindra’s mother S Sharada said that the family was yet to receive her son’s salary of four months. The family received only the insurance amount of Ravindra, who died at the age of 28 on September 6 while facing a terrorists’ ambush in Jammu and Kashmir during Operation Rakshak. “He (Ravindra) was the backbone of the family. My elder son is mentally challenged. We will now have to rely on agriculture alone,” she said.

Bakya Mary, the widow of Raj, who died in a road accident while on an annual leave to Bangalore, said she does not even receive pension, but gets `4,000 a month from the department of Rajya Sainik Welfare and Resettlement, Bangalore. “The amount is insufficient. There has been no help from the government. I work as a maid servant to make both ends meet. My sons reside and work in KGF and I am all alone in the city,” she said.

Constable Hadapad’s mother received the cheque of
Rs1 lakh for his son who died on August 29 in a battle with naxals in Chattisgarh.

Justice Hegde said there was a need for a permanent policy for the welfare of martyrs’ families. “I am ready to extend any help to ex-servicemen and the martyrs’ families to ensure that they get their rights and respect,” he said.

Higher education minister VS Acharya said that pensions were provided by the Centre. He said the state government had introduced a scheme under which sites were given to those above the age of 65 years.

Conspicuous by their absence at the function were chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, home minister R Ashoka and member of parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is also the convenor of the National Military Memorial. Law and parliamentary affairs minister R Suresh Kumar and Haj and wakf minister Mumtaz Ali Khan were present on the occasion.