Under pressure for the meagre monetary incentives given to gallantry award winners from the Armed forces, the Government has hiked monthly allowances of all award winners by more than 100 per cent. While earlier, recipients of the Param Vir Chakra were given Rs 1,500 per month, the amount has been raised to Rs 3,000 by the Ministry of Defence. The medal has been awarded to 21 Army personnel since Independence.Recipients of the Ashok Chakra will now get an allowance of Rs 2,800 per month as against the earlier amount of Rs 1,400. The Government has also decided to grant a monetary allowance of Rs 500 per month to the recipients of Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena Medal winners. Payment to all those who have received the awards will be made from January 26, 1999, onwards.
