In a move aimed at providing relief to widows of gallantry award winners, the Defence Ministry on Tuesday announced that they will continue to get their allowance even if they remarry. Till now, the allowance was continued only if she remarried her brother-in-law.
As per the existing condition for grant of monetary allowance to winners of gallantry awards, the allowance is given to the recipient, and on his death, to his widow.
“Recipients of the gallantry awards are entitled to the monetary allowance as per the letter of 1972 of Ministry of Defence (MoD), superseded by letter in 1995 of the MoD, which have been revised from time to time,” a Defence Ministry release said. As per earlier rules, the widow received the allowance until her remarriage or death.
However, in case the widow remarried her brother-in-law and was living a “communal life with the living heir”, she was eligible for family pension.
“Representations were received from various quarters to remove the condition of the widow’s remarriage with the late husband’s brother for continuation of the monetary allowance,” it said.
“This issue was considered by the government of India and it has now been decided to remove the condition of the widow’s remarriage with the late husband’s brother for continuation of the monetary allowance vide MoD letter dated November 16, 2017.”
As per the new rules, allowance will be now be given to the widow of a gallantry award winner till her death.
“The allowance shall be admissible to the recipient of the award and on his death to his widow lawfully married by a valid ceremony. The widow will continue to receive the allowance until her death,” the release said.