Spl Honour for Field Marshal and Marshal of the Air Force

New Delhi, Apr 17 (UNI) As a mark of the country's deep appreciation of the invaluable services they rendered, the Field Marshal of the Army and Marshal of the Air Force would be entitled to enhanced pay and perks, it was today announced.

An official spokesperson here said the Government had decided that officers holding honorary ranks of Field Marshal of the Army and Marshal of the Air Force would be entitled to ''an upgraded pay and emoluments package along with certain other facilities in keeping with the rare honour attached to these ranks''.

The upgraded package would become effective from the date of holding of these ranks, the spokesperson said.

With this decision, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw and Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh would be entitled to the same scale of pay as a Chief of the Service -- along with a Special Pay.

Residential accommodation -- or House Rent Allowance in lieu -- and Leave Travel Concession would also be admissible to both the dignitaries as per rules applicable to the Chief of the Service.

Other facilities such as Staff Officer, a nominated Staff Car, Medical facilities, and an official Hospitality allowance would also be made available.

The dignitaries would also be extended the status of State Guest on visit to any state.

Field Marshal Manekshaw was conferred the honorary rank on January 1, 1973. He retired a fortnight later, on January 15, after completing nearly four decades of military service.

Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh retired from active service -- as the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force -- in August 1969. He thereafter accepted Ambassadorship to Switzerland.

Subsequently, in recognition of his services, the Government conferred the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force onto him in January 2002 making him the first and the only 'Five Star' rank officer with the IAF.

UNI