Kargil Vijay Diwas: CM Mann doubles ex-gratia grant for Armed Forces personnel in cases of disability during service

The CM said that soldiers with 76% to 100% disability will now get Rs 40 lakh ex gratia instead of Rs 20 lakh, soldiers with 51%-75% disability will now get Rs 20 lakh instead of existing Rs 10 lakh, and those with 25%-50% disability will now get Rs 10 lakh ex gratia instead of Rs 5 lakh. Likewise, he said that the monthly financial assistance of non-pensioner ex-servicemen of World War I and II or their widows has been enhanced from existing Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. Mann said that the state government is duty bound to secure the interests of these brave soldiers who had served the country selflessly. On the occasion, the CM recalled that during the Kargil War (1999) he was an artiste and to express solidarity with the war heroes they had organised a charity show. He said that the show was held at Patiala in which a number of other artistes also took part. Mann said that all the collections from the show were handed over to the Army authorities as a token of gratitude towards their heroic deeds.

Earlier Cabinet Minister Chetan Singh Jaurmajra welcomed the dignitaries to the event and paid homage to the Kargil heroes. The CM also felicitated the family members of the martyrs.

Registration of drones

As drones are apparently used for smuggling heroin, weapons, and currency notes from across the Pakistan border, CM Mann has given a suggestion to the Centre to start registration of drones. He said the Centre has accepted his suggestion.

“Soon, drones will also have registration so that their misuse can be stopped,” said Mann while addressing a press conference here.

“Now drones have a wider role. They are used by many – from media to wedding parties. It has been found in investigation that some of the drones used for smuggling were being sent from India to pick consignments from Pakistan. So I had made a suggestion to the Centre that drones should be registered like vehicles and the Union government has accepted my suggestion,” the CM added.