Many defence staff do not follow pension norms

Many ex-servicemen and their dependents suffer due to faulty Pension Payment Order

The wife of Mahavir Chakra winner late Major Padmapani Acharya did not know that she was entitled to one-rank onepension. Ms Charu Latha Acharya, wife of Maj. Acharya who gave his life in the Kargil war, was also not getting the gallantry amount of `5,000 per month from 1998 as the Pension Payment Order (PPO) did not have the qualifying service mentioned.

In another case, the 84-yearold 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 `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 84year-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.

Veterans of World War II or their wives receive a pension of 6,000 per ` month from the state government.

Monetary assistance is given to ex-servicemen from the Flag Day Fund, celebrated on December 7.

Funds are raised by selling flags to the public and through voluntary donations.