By IANS
Chandigarh : The Haryana government Thursday substantially hiked cash rewards for gallantry award winners – both war and peacetime – as well as for ex-servicemen from the state.
Addressing a civil-military liaison conference at the Army's Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir, 10 km from here, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that winners of highest gallantry awards – Param Vir Chakra (war time) and Ashok Chakra (peace time) – would be given Rs.2.5 million in cash.
Earlier, Param Vir Chakra winners used to get Rs.172,000 and Ashok Chakra winners Rs.120,000 in cash rewards.
"Every 10th soldier in the Indian defence forces is from Haryana. We have over 271,000 ex-servicemen in the state," Hooda said.
Mahavir Chakra awardees will get Rs.1.5 million while Vir Chakra winners will get Rs.1 million instead of Rs.115,000 and Rs.57,000 respectively. Sena medal winners will get Rs.500,000.
Peacetime awardees – Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra – will get Rs.1.5 million and Rs.1 million respectively.
Hooda said that ex-servicemen in Haryana were getting enhanced pension and other benefits. He said that over Rs.210 million was spent on the welfare of serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents last year.