Centre raises war widow's pension from Rs70 to Rs18,000

After drawing flak from the Supreme Court, the Centre on Monday informed the apex court that it had increased the monthly pension of a 90-year-old war widow from Rs70 to Rs18,000.

After drawing flak from the Supreme Court, the Centre on Monday informed the apex court that it had increased the monthly pension of a 90-year-old war widow from Rs70 to Rs18,000.

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The Supreme Court had pulled up the Central government for its apathy towards the widow who was receiving the amount as part of the pensionary benefits following her husband's death in 1967.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told the bench headed by Justice Markandeya Katju that the government was also evolving a proper mechanism to address the grievances of ex-service personnel at their "doorsteps."

Subramanium added the government was fully concerned with the welfare of the armed forces and valued their contribution to the nation.

"The government's move to raise the pension was following the widow Pushpavanthi's petition before the SC," the S-G told the court.

He told the bench that there was no need for setting up any separate commission to address the problems of ex-servicemen at the moment as the Defence Ministry had a separate welfare wings at the district level to tackle grievances.

The bench had on the last date of hearing mooted the idea of a separate commission to deal with the service-related problems of the army personnel, both serving and retired, as courts were flooded with complaints.

The Solicitor General said the government was in the process of formulating a suitable mechanism to ensure that the grievances of the ex-servicemen were addressed at their doorsteps instead of compelling them to visit the headquarters.