Chandigarh, January 11: The Punjab Cabinet on Monday gave nod to amend the policy of “Appointments of Honour & Gratitude to the War Heroes or their Dependents” with a view to mitigate the problems being faced by dependents of martyred/disabled soldiers in getting the jobs in line with the existing policy.
Notably, the said policy was notified on August 19, 1999 to enable the state government to provide a government job to one dependent family member of martyr/disabled soldier in recognition of their supreme sacrifice.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that with the passage of time urgent need was felt to amend the said policy in view of the hardships being faced by dependents.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had met the Next of Kin (NOK) of martyrs, who have been given appointments, on February 14, 2020, wherein he had been apprised of these issues and thereupon the Chief Minister assured them of their resolution on priority.
The amendments in the policy will now allow the family of a martyr to reserve the job for a minor child in case the widow of the soldier does not wish to take up the job herself. Another provision has been inserted whereby widows of martyrs, who had been constrained to take up Group D posts due to extreme financial hardship, would be allowed to take a fresh Group C appointment provided they had upgraded their educational qualifications accordingly.
The spokesperson added that these amendments, along with certain others, would pave the way for the next of kin to avail the benefits being provided to them in recognition of the valour and bravery shown by the martyr.
