Don’t reduce reimbursement for kids of martyrs: Kirron

The defence ministry has released an order limiting the combined tuition and hostel fee reimbursement to ₹10,000 per year, which was full educational concession before.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, member of Parliament from Chandigarh, Kirron Kher, urged the Centre to reverse its order that seeks to limit the reimbursement amount for education of children of martyrs and soldiers disabled in service.

member of Parliament from Chandigarh Kirron Kher (HT Photo)

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Kher said as per the order, the reimbursement, which was earlier unlimited, has been restricted to ₹10,000 per year. This is an insufficient amount, she said.

Kher added that the armed forces undertake great risk against their lives to protect the country and by limiting the reimbursement amount, the government will save merely ₹5 crore.

Since 1971, the Centre has been providing full educational concession to the children of soldiers who died in war, were disabled, or are missing.

The scheme covers around 3,400 children and provides reimbursement of tuition fees, hostel charges, cost of books, uniforms and clothing.

However, following the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the defence ministry has released an order which limits the combined tuition and hostel fee reimbursement to ₹10,000 per year.