Soldiers from Kerala have proved themselves second to none when it comes to bravery on the battlefront, but at home their service to the nation is belittled. On September 20, the State Government hiked its rewards for soldiers decorated for gallantry, but they remain a pittance compared to what is offered in many other states.
For instance, Kerala hiked the annuity for the recipients of Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry decoration, to Rs 2200, and the lumpsum amount (cash award plus the grant in lieu of land) to Rs 2.05 lakh. Documents with this paper show that this is respectively Rs 12,500 and Rs 26,72,500 in Punjab; Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in Uttar Pradesh and Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in Himachal Pradesh!
Similar are the cases of Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and Vir Chakra (VC) awarded during wartime and the Ashok Chakra (AC), Kirthi Chakra (KC) and Shourya Chakra (SC), the peacetime gallantry awards.
The Sainik Welfare Department issued orders revising the rewards on September 21. At first glance, the revision appears a welcome one. But only until you begin comparing. Again, for example, a Vir Chakra recipient in Kerala will now get Rs 700 in the place of Rs 330 as annuity. This is mere peanuts when compared to other states. In Punjab the same is Rs 5500, in Uttar Pradesh Rs 66,000 and in Himachal Pradesh Rs 50,000.
And it’s not as if these rewards impose a liability on the state exchequer. At present, there are only 440 recipients in 11 categories in Kerala.
Here is a list; Param Vir Chakra (none), Ashok Chakra (three), Sarvotham Yudh Seva Medal (none), Maha Vir Chakra (one), Kirthi Chakra (eight), Utham Yudh Seva Medal (none), Vir Chakra (28), Shourya Chakra (74), Yudh Seva Medal (three), Sena/Nau Sena/Vayu Sena Medals (201), Mention-in-Despatches (113).
The disparity affects the morale of the soldiers, according to veteran soldiers. ‘’ I’d been getting Rs 660 once a year for years when other states have been giving Rs 12,500 for the same medal. Soldiers here are ignored,’’ said Kerala’s lone Maha Vir Chakra recipient Capt Philipose Thomas.
A hero of the 1971 war against Pakistan, Philipose Thomas, who is also an office bearer of the Kerala Ex-Servicemen’s League, is planning to meet the Chief Minister on the issue. ‘’There are so many ex-servicemen’s organisations in the state, but no one has reacted to this issue so far,’’ rued former Army captain V M Karikath.
The Sainik Welfare Department had requested the government for a hike on numerous occasions, but it is only now that a revision, albeit a meagre one, was sanctioned.
‘’Compared to states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand, the rewards are abysmally low. The government stand is that the sum has been doubled now,’’ Sainik Welfare director K K Govindan Nair said.
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