A sad tale of Ex-Army personnels

Darjeeling : Usha Thapa, the widow of Vir Chakra recipient Lance Naik Hira Bahadur Thapa, has been receiving Rs 150 as yearly grant from the Bengal government.

Thapa had been killed in action at Siachen during Operation Meghdoot in 1988.

Usha is being given the pittance in accordance with a resolution of the state home department (defence branch), dated August 22, 1964. The government has paid her Rs 1,650 as annuity from 1989 to 2000.

“We are concerned about the lack of interest shown by the government towards ex-servicemen. We are merely demanding that family members of people who have laid down their lives should be looked after well,” said S.P. Pradhan, the general secretary of the All India Gorkha Ex-Serviceman Welfare Association (Darjeeling Branch). “However, it seems we will have to go on a strike to make ourselves heard. Can the government shake off the shame if ex-armymen are forced to take to the streets.”

A.K. Saxena, the secretary of the Darjeeling Zilla Sainik Board, under the state home department, admitted that the compensation needs to be revised. “I will take up the case of Usha Thapa soon.”

However, the Centre provides Rs 7 to 10 lakh as compensation, apart from family pension, to the next of kin of soldiers killed in service.

Source: The Telegraph