Under
#SAVITA Sustainable And Valuable Initiative for Timely Assistance
In this AWARENESS SERIES, I will take you through, in most simple language, the suffering of widows due to apathy of the organisation. This part covers basic terms.
Battle Casualty
Physical Casualty
Attributable to Military Service
Not Attributable to Military Service
Ordinary Family Pension
Enhanced Family Pension
Special Family Pension
Liberalised Family Pension
Poll on Twitter
I carried out three polls on Twitter and requested veterans not to vote. Aim was to find out general awareness of public of terms not commonly heard or understood. The awareness is very low on understanding. Discrimination with widows is a result of apathy. Apathy by those handling armed forces, be it bureaucrats or service personnel.
For example a widow is 33 yr old with two daughters, aged 3 yrs and 5 yrs, should she be punished for being a widow? Did she get a a-la-carte menu to choose ‘how’ her husband died? Or she chooses ‘where’ her husband died? Or in what ‘situation’ her husband died? Imagine she gets Rs 12000.00 OR Rs 24000.00 OR Rs 40000.00 as pension based on the three questions above.
Who is a VEER NAARI?
Veer Naari is an ILLEGAL term used by few serving officers of Indian Army to spread a general feeling that the term means all widows of armed forces. There is only one category of widow. WIDOW. The poll results were shocking:
-48% say these are widows of ‘Battle Casualties’ but do not know what battle casualty is.
-12% civilians think that VEER NAARI’S are members of ARMY WIVES WELFARE ASSOCIATION.
-8% civilians think that VEER NAARI’S are ‘serving soldiers’ wives.
-32% think that the term includes ‘100% widows of armed forces’.
Do widows of same rank soldiers get same pension?
-59% say ‘NO’ but don’t know why.
-11% say ‘YES’.
-30% have no idea.
Difference between a “Battle Casualty” and a “Physical Casualty”?
-64% do not know the difference.
-36% say they know the difference.
Uncommon Terms not Commonly Understood
What does term CASUALTY mean? Most don’t know its ‘DEAD”. Further terms as ‘Fatal Casualty” and ‘Non-Fatal Casualty” signifies whether alive or dead. ‘Casualty’ is also used for an occurrence e.g. marriage of a soldier, a ‘casualty’ needs to be ‘published’, i.e. for permanent recording of the change.
BATTLE CASUALTY when a soldier dies during action in war, war like situations and notified operations
PHYSICAL CASUALTY when a soldier dies in service IN PEACE AREA, due to reasons not attributable OR not attributable to military service
PHYSICAL CASUALTY (Attributable to Military Service) – Any duty that can be connected to reason for death, e.g. death in military vehicle road accident or death while standing on guard duty.
PHYSICAL CASUALTY (Not Attributable to Military Service) – Death during leave, death in quarters, death while riding own two wheeler etc.
Ordinary Family Pension – Given to widow of PHYSICAL CASUALTY (Not Attributable to Military Service) @ 30% of last drawn reckonable emoluments.
Enhanced Family Pension – Given to widow of PHYSICAL CASUALTY (Not Attributable to Military Service) @ 50% of last drawn reckonable emoluments, this is for a period of 10 yrs. or 7 yrs.
Special Family Pension – Given to widow of PHYSICAL CASUALTY (Attributable to Military Service) @ 60% of last drawn reckonable emoluments.
Liberalised Family Pension – Given to widow of BATTLE CASUALTY @ 100% of last drawn reckonable emoluments.
Fault of Widow?
I am sure you will not be able to see the misery hidden in the above terms. In the PART 2, I will take one widow, build her family, let her become a widow and translate the above terms for her.
YOU DECIDE THEREAFTER WHAT A FORCES WIDOWS LIFE IS.
19 thoughts on “AWARENESS SERIES : ARMED FORCES WIDOWS – PART 1 : WIDOW NOT BY CHOICE”
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Useful info Please 🙏.
LINGALA JAGAN REDDY
CHAIRMAN
National Ex-servicemen Co-ordination Commmittee,
RECOGNIZED by Ministry of Defence
REGISTERED
Thank you
When an Ex service person dies at the age of 40.After 7 years his widow pension will decrease. How she will look after her children.Please think.Without husband is she capable to handle the children with that pension.
Madam, These are the points no one wants to understand.
Good initiative. We in our effort to adjust with the society after retirement do not bother about our rights facilities and hesitate to discuss them. This is an opportunity to understand what the society knows about army and the men who serve
Thank you Colonel.
An excellent initiative which was overdue. Let people of this country know the suffering of widow of soldiers who has sacrificed their life to protect the people of lndia and it’s geographical sovereignty. Thanks for the initiative Sanjoy.
Very informative and a great initiative…
The nation is duty bound to take care of a martyr’s family. In my Regy we have atrdition of the CO having a jt ac with the widows of martyrs. His children’s edn & employment is taken care of. For daughters marriage Regt sends an officer with wedding gifts and money for the widow. Fir the boys. The Regt trains them for sianik schooks, NDAor IMA depending on their capabilities. The can also be recruited as gnrs. It is like an extended family
There is hardly any awareness about the services though we faught 5 wars with Pak & one with China. No country in the world has such low awareness. Leave aside ESMs they hardly bother about serving soldiers.I am reminded of good old saying ” God helps only those who help themselves.
Why is a woman given a pension as per his rank of death and same is not increased with time .Let us say he dies at a young age say as a Capt at an age of 25-27 yrs . His young widow gets measerly pension her entire life while if he was alive he would have atleast become a Col and would be drawing good salary / good pension for.family to lead a good officer like lifestyle . Did the woman choose to have her husband die at a young age defending the interests of the country
Very Nice Initiative Col. Pande.
As most of the widows are of lowest ranks ( Sepoy, Lance Naik, Naik, Havaldar, Sergeant, Corporal, Sailor, Navik, Yantrik, Petty Officer, Seaman ) in 97% of the cases in both cases ( BATTLE CASUALTY or PHYSICAL CASUALTY ) considering quantum of these Solder Widows ( Veer Naris), can our retired Commissioned Officers (Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier,Major General etc of Tri-services) not think similarly and adopt a VeerNari / Martyr family.
Their wife are certified by AWWA, AFWWA, NWWA.
Why to talk about politicians or beuracrats. In the Armed Forces, most of us don’t know the status. We leave it to the civilian advisers who never stayed away even for a minute from his/her spouse. Whatever the civilian babu. I know even the clerical cadre, advice like this. Armed Forces officers, on their own, get posted for their relaxed atmosphere. But leave it to the subordinates to dictate to us.
As a matter of fact awareness in society required
Sir,an excellent move to words a noble cause to bring out the actual State of this neglected group whose contribution to the organisation can’t be forgotten. Those who are in position not to forgot that providing opportunities and support to them is like helping your own people. Thanks 👍
Thank you Sir. We have failed our men. I will not till I live.
Thank you very much Sir,it’s about time someone took up the plight of suffering of the widows.No one speaks or does anything worthwhile for them.Sincere thanks for the efforts.
Cheers
Thanks Col Pandey and the Lady. Great and desperately required initiative. You are engaging in a tremendous service to all ESM and families, a lot of who are in real need of awareness and guidance. The civil society also needs to be exposed and made aware of the terrible suffering and exalted sacrifices of the families of our soldiers.
Please keep it up.
Very good initiative. Most people r ignorant of the problems faced by widows of soldiers. Let us join hands & extend support to them to make their life a little better.
Thank you Sir.