All care has been taken to pay entitled benefits to Naik Surender Singh, who fought terrorists in the 26/11 attacks, and government was ready to look into his grievances, the defence ministry said on Thursday.
The former NSG commando, who was invalidated from service after he became
medically unfit, had claimed that he has not been given pension and dues since last 13 months.
"The Government has taken all care to pay all entitled terminal benefits due to Naik Surender Singh. In case, he still has any grievance, we are prepared to look into it," the ministry said in response to the allegations levelled by the ex 2 Grenadiers soldier.
It said around Rs. 20 lakh has already been given by the government to him and he is due to get another Rs. 10 lakh. "Naik Surender Singh has been sanctioned pensionary and terminal benefits vis-a-vis retirement gratuity Rs. 2,11,458, commutation of pension Rs. 11,35,809, Armed Forces PF Rs. 6,48,195, Army Group Insurance Rs. 1,13,849 and Army Group Disability Cover Rs. 10 lakh, Final settlement of accounts Rs. 89,705 and ex-gratia from welfare fund Rs. 10,000," the
ministry said, detailing the dues.
"He is also entitled to an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 9 lakh for 100% disability which will be processed separately. He has been sanctioned a pension of Rs. 25,254 per month which includes service elements and war injury elements," the ministry said in a release.
It said the soldier has also been issued his Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme card which was 'dispatched to the District Sainik Board, Jhajjar on October 5 for handing over to him'.
In the 26/11 operations, Naik Surender had suffered acoustic trauma and became a permanent 'low medical category' on account of sensory neural deafness of the left ear.
"In the normal course, he would have been reverted to his parent unit 2 Grenadiers on completion of his three-year tenure on May 8 2010. However, on compassionate grounds, he was retained in the NSG till October 15, 2011, when he was boarded out by a medical board at Army Base Hospital Delhi," the release said.