Pune: Maharashtra pays much less ex gratia to families of defence personnel who die in operations as compared to Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka and some others states. The family of a Param Vir Chakra awardee gets Rs60 lakh much less than Telangana's Rs 2.25 crore, Punjab's Rs 2 crore and Haryana's Rs2 crore.
Karnataka gives Rs1.5 crore, and Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu pay Rs 1 crore to the kin. Maharashtra Sainik Welfare Board records show that the amount is even less for Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra gallantry awardees.
Brigadier Rajesh Gaikwad (retd), the department's former director, told TOI that they had forwarded a fresh proposal to increase the one-time ex gratia amount to the state govt last year. He added, "We proposed Rs2 crore for PVC, Rs1.5 crore for Ashok Chakra and the MVC, Rs1 crore for Kirti Chakra, Rs75 lakh for Vir Chakra, and Rs50 lakh for Shaurya Chakra.
The proposal is with General Administration Department. The amount is increased every four years and the last revision was in 2019." A total of 1,333 military personnel, including officers from Maharashtra, have received military awards and decorations since independence for outstanding bravery in battles and operations.
Major RR Rane was the last army officer from Maharashtra awarded PVC for exceptional bravery in the 1948 Indo-Pak war. There were 12 MVC awardees, including Captain MN Samant, who was instrumental in naval operations.