Punjab CM approves cash grant for war widows in place of land

Chandigarh : Conceding a long pending demand, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday approved a policy change allowing cash grants instead of land for war widows. The policy change will be applicable to dependents of martyred soldiers, besides permanently disabled soldiers of 1962 Indo-China War, 1965 Indo-Pak War and widows of 1971 Indo-Pak War. An official spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said that Singh had approved a grant of Rs 5 lakh in lieu of one acre of land up to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh for 10 acres, as per individual eligibility. The chief minister also directed the sainik welfare department to expedite the disbursement of the cash to provide the war widows with the much-needed relief, the spokesperson said. He added that the chief minister has reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the war widows, as well as ex-servicemen. Amarinder Singh has started connecting with all the war widows and ex-servicemen in the state on a personal basis through Demi-Official letters, the spokesperson said.