Hyderabad: The state government on Friday gave a surprise gift for defence personnel from the state who were decorated with gallantry medals. It will now give cash awards to the personnel from June 2, 2014, though Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao promised the cash awards only last year.
Mr Rao had announced in the Assembly that the cash awards to gallantry award winners among armed forces personnel belonging to the state would be enhanced to a level higher than is being given in other states.
It took the government 19 months to execute the order but it has made up for the delay by bringing more award winners under its ambit.
TS Sainik Welfare Board director Colonel P. Ramesh Kumar told this newspaper, “Defence personnel who were decorated with gallantry medal after June 2, 2014, are eligible to apply. This will be a one-time lumpsum cash grant and the awardees will not be entitled to any other benefit (land or annuity in lieu of cash).” He said eligible defence personnel must contact the TS Sainik Welfare Board.
Armed forces personnel awarded a ‘bar’ to the award may be provided with the same amount again. In case an awardee secures a medal for a different act of gallantry, the amount will be provided as per rules existing at that time.
The monetary grants are restricted to personnel belonging to TS by birth or domicile as per permanent address given at the time of joining the armed forces and recorded in their service records.
