Treatment meted out to Gallantry Award Winners
Why lay your life for your country?
Rs 25 allowance for Vir Chakra awardee
NEW DELHI, 23 JULY: A Rs 25 monthly allowance might be a forgettable amount for anyone in the country, but not for Vir Chakra awardee and Indian Navy’s retired chief petty officer Mr LK Chakrabarty (67) (see photograph).
For every time he receives Rs 25 from the state government in his home state of West Bengal in respect of his “meritorious service rendered for the defence of the nation” during 1971 Indo-Pak war ~ when as the leader of the “killer squadron” he sunk two enemy ships and an oil installation ~ Mr Chakrabarty feels “humiliated”.
Even more, till 2007 this allowance was just Rs 12.50 paise per month whereas the amount is up to Rs 10,000 per month in other states. “With a Rs 25 allowance these days one can’t get more than six cups of tea. One feels ashamed even to pursue the matter in the case,” Mr Chakrabarty said.
Being a warrior, he is not prepared to give up easily and is fighting a “lone battle” for the last nine years against what he calls a “shameless act” of the West Bengal government.
But he has not achieved any success yet as the state government maintains the proposal for increase in monetary benefit for gallantry award winners is under consideration. It has been the case since 2007.
Mr Chakrabarty has been pursuing the matter with the state government since 2000 and has already sent numerous reminders in the matter. “I have written many times to the chief minister and the home (defence) department to increase this meagre allowance. But none of the letters have received a suitable response. One official even told me it was a ‘fixed’ allowance that cannot be reviewed!” he said. “My contemporaries get shocked when they get to know that gallantry award winners in West Bengal get Rs 25 as allowance per month. In view of the allowance being provided in other states, I have requested the state government to provide at least Rs 3,000 a month. But even this seems to be too much to ask for,” Mr Chakrabarty said. As the chief petty officer, Mr Chakrabarty was in-charge of the engineering department of the only missile ship, which fired three missiles at Pakistani establishments during the Indo-Pak war.
West Bengal has only 46 such awardees. Some of those awarded Vir Chakra for gallantry during action of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in 1987-90, were given a one-time Rs 7,500. ; SNS
Do I have to give any further comments?
While corrupt ministers, politicians and businessmen loot the country and stash away the money in Swiss banks, those who fight for the country are treated thus.
We waste crores on the security of corrupt chief ministers but pay Rs 25/- per month for gallantry award winners.
Cry India, cry!
NEW DELHI, 23 JULY: A Rs 25 monthly allowance might be a forgettable amount for anyone in the country, but not for Vir Chakra awardee and Indian Navy’s retired chief petty officer Mr LK Chakrabarty (67) (see photograph).
For every time he receives Rs 25 from the state government in his home state of West Bengal in respect of his “meritorious service rendered for the defence of the nation” during 1971 Indo-Pak war ~ when as the leader of the “killer squadron” he sunk two enemy ships and an oil installation ~ Mr Chakrabarty feels “humiliated”.
Even more, till 2007 this allowance was just Rs 12.50 paise per month whereas the amount is up to Rs 10,000 per month in other states. “With a Rs 25 allowance these days one can’t get more than six cups of tea. One feels ashamed even to pursue the matter in the case,” Mr Chakrabarty said.
Being a warrior, he is not prepared to give up easily and is fighting a “lone battle” for the last nine years against what he calls a “shameless act” of the West Bengal government.
But he has not achieved any success yet as the state government maintains the proposal for increase in monetary benefit for gallantry award winners is under consideration. It has been the case since 2007.
Mr Chakrabarty has been pursuing the matter with the state government since 2000 and has already sent numerous reminders in the matter. “I have written many times to the chief minister and the home (defence) department to increase this meagre allowance. But none of the letters have received a suitable response. One official even told me it was a ‘fixed’ allowance that cannot be reviewed!” he said. “My contemporaries get shocked when they get to know that gallantry award winners in West Bengal get Rs 25 as allowance per month. In view of the allowance being provided in other states, I have requested the state government to provide at least Rs 3,000 a month. But even this seems to be too much to ask for,” Mr Chakrabarty said. As the chief petty officer, Mr Chakrabarty was in-charge of the engineering department of the only missile ship, which fired three missiles at Pakistani establishments during the Indo-Pak war.
West Bengal has only 46 such awardees. Some of those awarded Vir Chakra for gallantry during action of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka in 1987-90, were given a one-time Rs 7,500. ; SNS
Do I have to give any further comments?
While corrupt ministers, politicians and businessmen loot the country and stash away the money in Swiss banks, those who fight for the country are treated thus.
We waste crores on the security of corrupt chief ministers but pay Rs 25/- per month for gallantry award winners.
Cry India, cry!
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