Helping war widows rebuild life

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28: Those left behind by the dead, they say, die a thousand deaths.For the families of soldiers who have died at Kargil, ...

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28: Those left behind by the dead, they say, die a thousand deaths.

For the families of soldiers who have died at Kargil, the process of readjusting to life without their near and dear has just begun, bringing into sharp focus the need for relief and rehabilitation to war widows.

quot;Initially, the Government did not have adequate funds for war widows, but now the armed forces have set up non-public8217; funds and all of us contribute to the insurance scheme,quot; says Air Marshal retd Denzil Keelor.

Besides the ex-gratia the family gets depending on the rank and seniority of the deceased, the armed forces also have their own welfare branches to rehabilitate disabled soldiers and help widows and dependents rebuild their lives.

According to official sources, the Army Central Welfare Fund gives educational and travel concessions, runs employment schemes, and vocational programmes for the widows, dependents of armed forces personnel killed/disabled during 1962, 1965, 1971 conflicts, andOperations Pawan in Sri Lanka and Meghdoot Siachen.

It also aims at rehabilitating the families of soldiers who have laid down their lives in the Kargil operations.

The Army Wives8217; Welfare Association AWWA, registered as a non-governmental organisation in 1966, rehabilitates, supports and creates opportunities for wives, widows and children of Army personnel.

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quot;It has been there for a long time since our borders were always active. It is only now that the media has given it a lot of attentionquot;, says an AWWA official.

Though the AWWA has been helping the wives of jawans from rural areas adapt to changing trends, it has played a significant role in the inclusion of widows as commissioned officers. quot;There are already four women commissioned officers after the relaxation of age upto 30 yearsquot;, says Dr Ranjana Malik, AWWA president.

Monetarily too, they are well-looked after as benefits such as pension to war widows have been enhanced, and vocational training is provided to the wives of soldiers whowant access to such ventures, says Malik.