IEP Chandigarh, June 26
Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said that as per the directions of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab Government has decided to double the War Jagir from the existing Rs 10,000 per annum to Rs 20,000 per annum under the Punjab War Awards Act, 1948. Revealing this, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema said that after June 2013, no increase was made in War Jagir during the last 10 years. He said that the amount of Rs 10,000 being awarded annually is insignificant under the current level of inflation. He said that it is the duty of the government to increase the War Jagir for the parents of the heroes of the country keeping in view the current level of inflation. The Finance Minister further added that the proposal sent by the Defense Services Welfare Department in this regard has been approved by the Finance Department. He said that the Punjab government is indebted to those parents who had encouraged their sons to join Indian Army for safeguarding the country during national crises. It may be mentioned here that the parents, who are residents of Punjab and whose only son or 2 to 3 sons served in the Indian Army during World War II, National Emergency 1962 and National Emergency 1971, are being awarded an annual War Jagir by the Punjab Government as an honour.
