Reverse cap on education expenses for martyr’s kinds: Punjab CM tells Sitharaman

Chandigarh, Dec 1: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking reversal of the ministry's decision to cap educational expenses paid to children of those personnel who laid down their lives are were disabled in action.

Terming it "immoral" and "unprincipled", he has called for an immediate review and revocation of the decision. "The move to cap the expenses at Rs 10,000 per month would make a mockery of the objective behind the scheme, announced in the Lok Sabha in 1971 and introduced the next year," the chief minister said, adding this would amount to undermining the sacrifices of defence personnel.

Dubbing the cap on the expenses as a "shameful disregard" for the contribution of the armed personnel to the country and its citizens, Singh said the fee being paid to the children of martyrs and disabled soldiers was a small price in exchange for what they had given and continue to give to the nation.

In a statement here, he said the decision was "not only unethical and immoral but also against the interest of the nation, which need to keep the morale of its armed forces high all the time, especially at the present juncture when India is facing all kinds of internal and external threats to its peace and stability." The welfare of the armed forces presonnel and their kin was a national responsibility, which the central government, through the Ministry of Defence, was duty-bound to fulfill, Singh said.

"The move to cut down on reimbursement of the educational expenses of such kids, was in fact, a sign of the gradual erosion being witnessed in the government's respect for the defence forces," he said. The chief minister said, the "progressive dilution" of the welfare initiatives undertaken for our brave jawans was "discreditable and completely lacking in sensitivity".

"Apart from the humanitarian aspect involved, it was also in national interest to ensure that the defence personnel and their families are provided with all the necessary facilities and support to enable them to discharge their duty without any anxiety or stress," he said. "As a nation, we need to show to our armed forces our indebtedness and gratitude for all their sacrifices and not indulge in such unnecessary penny pinching, which would serve no purpose except to lower their morale," Singh said.

PTI