Shocking! Red tape leaves martyr soldier's widow with no salary, pension for months

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Blame it on red tape or human apathy! It is a shocking fact that widow of our armed forces soldier not just suffers bereavement of her husband, her financial support coming from the Forces ends the day the soldier lays his life down in the line of duty.

The salary of the soldier stops the day of his death. Also, there is a gap of two to three months, and in some cases, more, in the disbursal of the pension to the widow or the next of kin of the soldier who has died.

The rigidity in red tape is so sever that there have been cases that widows of soldiers have died without getting the pension of their deceased husbands.

The Member of Parliament for Karnataka Rajeev Chandrashekhar has brought up the matter to the Defence Minister and has sought at least 50 percent pay of the martyred soldier should be continued to be paid to his widow and or next of kin for the duration of 2-3 months until the pension starts.

He said any variation in the amount can be settled once the arrears are paid up.

For cases that suffer delay due to completion of formalities, the provision of Pending Enquiry Award under the Pension Regulations of Defence Services Regulations be authorised with immediate effect in all cases until the pension is disbursed.