Ex gratia for martyrs’ families doubled to Rs 1 cr, disability coverage expanded

Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the Haryana Government has significantly enhanced the ex gratia compensation for families of armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel who die in the line of duty or suffer permanent disability while serving in operational areas or during war, terrorist or militant attacks, border skirmishes, or United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

New guidelines

  • As per a notification issued by the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, the next of kin of a battle casualty will now receive Rs 1 crore as an ex gratia — double the earlier amount of Rs 50 lakh

  • This revision is effective from February 23, 2024

  • Soldiers suffering from a disability of 70% or above will be granted Rs 35 lakh. Those with disabilities between 50% and 69% will receive Rs 25 lakh, and personnel with disabilities ranging from 20% to 49% will be entitled to Rs 15 lakh

As per a notification issued by the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, the next of kin (NoK) of a battle casualty will now receive Rs 1 crore as an ex gratia — double the earlier amount of Rs 50 lakh. This revision is effective from February 23, 2024. The last revision to the amount was made in 2016.

The state has also revised the slabs for disability related ex gratia, now covering a wider range of permanently disabled personnel. Soldiers suffering from a disability of 70% or above will be granted Rs 35 lakh. Those with disabilities between 50% and 69% will receive Rs 25 lakh, and personnel with disabilities ranging from 20% to 49% will be entitled to Rs 15 lakh.

The notification specifies that the “disability element should be of a permanent percentage fixed by the initial Medical Board." Review Medical Board reports will not alter the ex gratia payment amount, even if the disability percentage is later changed.

Previously, only those with 75% and above disability were eligible for Rs 35 lakh, while the 50-74% and 25-49% categories received Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh respectively. The last revision in disability benefits was made in 2017.

Only soldiers who had Haryana domicile at the time of joining the forces are eligible under this scheme.

The notification also outlines how the ex gratia amount will be divided among the martyr’s family. The spouse will receive 35%, regardless of remarriage. Children will get 35%, and parents 30%, irrespective of dependency. In case of an unmarried martyr, parents will receive 100% —split equally between mother and father. If the deceased had no children, the widow and parents will share the amount equally.

The Administrative Secretary of the Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare Department is the competent authority to sanction the grant, with powers delegated to the respective Deputy Commissioner-cum-president of the District Sainik Welfare Office.

Attempts to reach ACS Vijayendra Kumar for comment were unsuccessful.

Haryana Tribune