Hyderabad: The wife of Mahavir Chakra winner late Major Padmapani Acharya did not know that she was entitled to one-rank one-pension. Ms Charu Latha Acharya, wife of Maj. Acharya who gave his life in the Kargil war, was also not getting the gallantry amount of Rs 5,000 per month from 1998 as the Pension Payment Order (PPO) did not have the qualifying service mentioned.
In another case, the 84-year-old wife of a lieutenant colonel did not know that she was entitled to get 20 per cent additional pension as she had crossed 80 years of age. It took her nearly a year to get her dues. Several defence personnel do not provide the required personal data about their spouse in the PPO. It is important to mention the year of birth to claim the benefits. Of 40,000 defence personnel from TS, 70 per cent are pensioners.
Colonel P. Ramesh Kumar, director of the TS Sainik Welfare Board, said, “With regard to Ms. Acharya, the PPO did not have the qualifying service of the late Major Acharya, who died in the 1998 Kargil war. Since then, she was not receiving the Rs 5,000 gallantry award. We had to write to the Army and the matter was referred to the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, Allahabad, which issued a corrigendum. All this could have been avoided if the qualifying service was mentioned.” In the case of the 84-year-old, the delay in getting additional pension could have been avoided if her birth details were mentioned. “There are several cases wherein the ex-servicemen miss out on important PPO details. In the recent Adalat held in the city, 932 cases related pension were reported,” he said.
Air travel ID for unmarried daughters, sons:
Unmarried daughters of defence personnel and sons up to the age of 25 will be issued an identification card for air travel. Apart from pensioners, the spouse, too, will receive the air travel cards.
Many dependants are ignorant of the fact that unmarried daughters can avail pension if the parents are dead, while sons can remain dependent till 25 years of age and avail all pension-related services.
Colonel P. Ramesh Kumar, director, TS Sainik Welfare Board, said, “Unmarried daughters of a deceased veteran and spouse are entitled to get pension benefits if her income is less than what is entitled till she is married. To get these benefits, the dependent’s name should be endorsed while applying for pension, by registering with the Zilla Sainik Board.”
He said defence pensioners are entitled to exemption from property tax. The city is home to veterans from various wars, the Sri Lankan operation and the 1999 Kargil war.
