Lok Sabha Question No. 1040 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Widows of Ex-servicemen
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF   EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1040

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  December, 2023

## WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN

## 1040. SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of widows of ex-servicemen in the country, rank and State/UT-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  regularly  revises  the  monthly  assistance  provided  to  widows  of ex-servicemen and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  reviewed/proposes  to  review  the  various  welfare  measures presently extended to war widows/families in Armed Forces, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  any  employment  on  compassionate  ground  to  war widows/families of defence personnel based on their educational qualifications; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a):  State-wise data of Widows of Ex-servicemen in the country is at Annexure-I.
- (b):  The widows of ex-servicemen are entitled for family pension which is revised under OROP after every five years. The family pension is also linked with dearness relief which is revised after every six months.
- (c):  Government reviews the various welfare measures extended to war widows/families in Armed Forces time to time. A list of welfare measures which has been revised recently is at Annexure-II.
- (d)  &  (e):    Yes,  Sir.  War  widows/families  are  provided  employment  through  schemes  of employment  through  compassionate  appointment.  Guidelines  for  compassionate  appointment have been issued by DoP&T. Under the scheme, wards/dependents of war widows/martyr are also considered alongwith others as per extant rules. Compassionate appointments have been granted to 32 widows/family members of deceased defence personnel during the year 2022.

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ANNEXURE-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023 REGARDING 'WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN'.

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | No. of Widows Registered   | No. of Widows Registered   | No. of Widows Registered   | No. of Widows Registered   |
|-----------|-------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | Army                       | Navy                       | Air Force                  | Total                      |
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH    | 23,587                     | 877                        | 1,388                      | 25,852                     |
| 2         | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 226                        | 0                          | 0                          | 226                        |
| 3         | ASSAM             | 8,543                      | 66                         | 557                        | 9,166                      |
| 4         | BIHAR             | 10,469                     | 541                        | 778                        | 11,788                     |
| 5         | CHHATTISGARH      | 1,433                      | 35                         | 75                         | 1,543                      |
| 6         | DELHI             | 10,362                     | 1,262                      | 2,405                      | 14,029                     |
| 7         | GOA               | 267                        | 156                        | 54                         | 477                        |
| 8         | GUJARAT           | 4,376                      | 90                         | 583                        | 5,049                      |
| 9         | HARYANA           | 47,224                     | 3,620                      | 2,702                      | 53,546                     |
| 10        | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 38,490                     | 508                        | 369                        | 39,367                     |
| 11        | JAMMU& KASHMIR    | 21,638                     | 53                         | 199                        | 21,890                     |
| 12        | JHARKHAND         | 4,364                      | 227                        | 210                        | 4,801                      |
| 13        | KARNATAKA         | 26,526                     | 716                        | 2,498                      | 29,740                     |
| 14        | KERALA            | 58,617                     | 2,843                      | 8,047                      | 69,507                     |
| 15        | MADHYA PRADESH    | 11,244                     | 238                        | 428                        | 11,910                     |
| 16        | MAHARASHTRA       | 60,994                     | 1,559                      | 2447                       | 65,000                     |
| 17        | MANIPUR           | 2,077                      | 26                         | 10                         | 2,113                      |
| 18        | MEGHALAYA         | 1,361                      | 34                         | 45                         | 1,440                      |
| 19        | MIZORAM           | 2,658                      | 16                         | 25                         | 2,699                      |
| 20        | NAGALAND          | 937                        | 0                          | 2                          | 939                        |
| 21        | ODISHA            | 4,036                      | 156                        | 317                        | 4,509                      |
| 22        | PUNJAB            | 60,261                     | 4,236                      | 9,756                      | 74,253                     |
| 23        | RAJASTHAN         | 43,394                     | 498                        | 773                        | 44,665                     |
| 24        | SIKKIM            | 412                        | 3                          | 1                          | 416                        |
| 25        | TAMIL NADU        | 54,520                     | 1,012                      | 3,332                      | 58,864                     |
| 26        | TRIPURA           | 660                        | 18                         | 27                         | 705                        |
| 27        | TELANAGANA        | 5,710                      | 207                        | 1,155                      | 7,072                      |
| 28        | UTTARAKHAND       | 48087                      | 397                        | 440                        | 48,924                     |
| 29        | UTTAR PRADESH     | 59,053                     | 4,634                      | 5,128                      | 68,815                     |
| 30        | WEST BENGAL       | 12052                      | 617                        | 1,710                      | 14,379                     |
| 31        | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR | 171                        | 17                         | 4                          | 192                        |
| 32        | CHANDIGARH        | 1870                       | 84                         | 686                        | 2,640                      |
| 33        | PUDUCHERRY        | 740                        | 24                         | 79                         | 843                        |
| 34        | LADAKH            | 889                        | 0                          | 4                          | 893                        |
|           | Total             | 6,27,248                   | 24,770                     | 46,234                     | 6,98,252                   |

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## ANNEXURE-II REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1040 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2023 REGARDING 'WIDOWS OF EX-SERVICEMEN'.

|   Sl. No. | Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                      | Previous Amount                                                 | Last Revised Amount                         | Date of last revision                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Ex-gratia causality (Fatal) provided via Armed Forces Battle Causalities Welfare Fund a. Fatal b. Disability 60% and above c. Invalidated out due to disability d. Disability less than 60% | Rs. 2 lakh Rs. 2 lakh Rs. 2 lakh Rs. 1 lakh                     | Rs. 8 lakh Rs. 8 lakh Rs. 8 lakh Rs. 4 lakh | 06 th May, 2020.                                                                                                                                                              |
|         2 | 100% Disable Children Grant                                                                                                                                                                 | Rs. 1000/- per month                                            | Rs. 3000/- per month                        | 09.07.2021                                                                                                                                                                    |
|         3 | Orphan Grant                                                                                                                                                                                | Rs. 1000/- per month                                            | Rs. 3000/- per month                        | 29.07.2022                                                                                                                                                                    |
|         4 | Medical Grant                                                                                                                                                                               | Rs. 30,000/- per annum                                          | Rs. 50,000/- per annum                      | 11 th August, 2023                                                                                                                                                            |
|         5 | Serious Disease Grant                                                                                                                                                                       | Rs. 1,25,000/- per annum                                        | Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum                    | 11 th August, 2023                                                                                                                                                            |
|         6 | Vocational training grant                                                                                                                                                                   | Rs. 20,000/- One time                                           | Rs. 50,000/- One time                       | 11 th August, 2023                                                                                                                                                            |
|         7 | Cost of books/stationery                                                                                                                                                                    | Rs. 1000/- per annum per student                                | Rs. 2000/- per annum per student            | These allowances are revised in each Pay Commission and the last revision came in force w.e.f 01 st July, 2017. These allowances shall go up by 25% each time DA rise by 50%. |
|         8 | Cost of uniform                                                                                                                                                                             | Rs. 1700/- (during first year and Rs. 700 for subsequent years) | Rs. 2000/- per annum per student            | These allowances are revised in each Pay Commission and the last revision came in force w.e.f 01 st July, 2017. These allowances shall go up by 25% each time DA rise by 50%. |
|         9 | Clothing                                                                                                                                                                                    | Rs. 500/- (during first year and Rs. 300 for subsequent years)  | Rs. 700/- per annum per annum               | These allowances are revised in each Pay Commission and the last revision came in force w.e.f 01 st July, 2017. These allowances shall go up by 25% each time DA rise by 50%. |

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