Penury grant for ex-servicemen, widows enhanced

(Image: Arun Jaitley/ AFP Photo)

New Delhi: The government has enhanced the penury grant to non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows to Rs 4,000 per month from the existing Rs 1,000, an official statement said on Thursday. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley approved the increase in the penury grant following demands by different stake holders, including ex-servicemen associations, Rajya Sainik Boards and widows. Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra had also sent a proposal to the Defence Minister to increase the amount to Rs 4,000. The penury grant is provided to non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows, who are above 65 years of age by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, through Kendriya Sainik Board. "The step of enhancement of penury grant will benefit a large number of non-pensioner ex-servicemen and widows who are in a state of penury," the statement said. Earlier, it was a onetime grant of Rs 30,000. It was revised to Rs 1,000 per month in October 2011.