Chairs state MC meeting of Armed Forces Flag at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD, NOVEMBER 02, 2024: Mr Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Telangana, chaired the fourth meeting of the State Managing Committee of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, Telangana State, on Saturday (02.11.2024) at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad.
The members present at the meeting included: Ravi Gupta, I.P.S., Special Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department & Member, SMC; K. Ramakrishna Rao, I.A.S., Special Chief Secretary to Government, Finance Department & Member, SMC; K. Surendra Mohan, I.A.S., Secretary to Government, Mines & Geology Department (Representative of Chief Secretary to Government of Telangana); Maj Gen Rakesh Manocha, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, HQ Telangana & Andhra Sub Area & Member, SMC; A.K. Dhar, Representative of Kendriya Sainik Board, Government of India, New Delhi; Lt Col Bharat Yadav, Representative of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi; Maj Gen N. Srinivas Rao (Retd.), Nominated Member, IHQ, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi; Brig P. Ganesham, VSM (Retd.), Non-Official Member, SMC; Maj Bharat Ongireddy, SM (Retd.), Nominated Member, IHQ, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi; Anudeep Durishetty, I.A.S., Collector & District Magistrate, Hyderabad District & Special Invitee, SMC; Col P. Ramesh Kumar (Retd.), Director, Sainik Welfare & Member/Secretary, SMC; and J. Bhavani Shankar, Joint Secretary to the Governor.
Col P. Ramesh Kumar, Director of Sainik Welfare and Secretary of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, Telangana State, provided a detailed briefing on the state of the fund, various schemes, key activities of the Sainik Welfare Department, and details of beneficiaries receiving support through the fund. He expressed his gratitude to all Gazetted and Non-Gazetted employees, Class IV Employees, Drivers, Teachers of the Government of Telangana, and employees of the State Bank of India for their generous contributions to the fund each year.
The Committee approved the following measures:
- Immediate financial assistance of Rs. 2 Lakhs to widows of Ex-Servicemen with one dependent child below 25 years of age, and Rs. 3 Lakhs for widows with two dependent children below 25 years of age.
- Financial assistance of Rs. 3 Lakhs to parents of unmarried soldiers, Rs. 2.5 Lakhs to parents of married soldiers, and Rs. 3 Lakhs to the spouse of married soldiers who died in service.
- Enhanced marriage grant for daughters of Ex-Servicemen from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000, now named “Kalyana Kanuka.”
- Increased financial assistance to 100% disabled soldiers from Rs. 12,000 per month to Rs. 15,000 per month.
- Increased financial support for special children of Ex-Servicemen under 15 years of age from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 per month, and for special children above 15 years of age to Rs. 9,000 per month.
- Enhanced assistance for orphaned children from Rs. 2,000 per month to Rs. 5,000 per month.
- Increased hostel fee reimbursement from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 per annum for children of Ex-Servicemen studying in Class 11 and above and staying in college-run hostels.
- Enhanced funeral grant on the death of Ex-Servicemen from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000.
- Approved reimbursement of Rs. 40,000 to children of Ex-Servicemen for the purchase of computers during the first year of a degree course.
- Approved financial assistance of up to Rs. 2 Lakhs for organ transplantation at ECHS-empanelled hospitals if the expense is not fully covered by ECHS.
- Approved cash incentives for medals won by Ex-Servicemen/their children in sports events organized by the Government of India/State Government: Gold (Rs. 1 Lakh), Silver (Rs. 75,000), and Bronze (Rs. 50,000).
- Sanctioned Rs. 40 Lakhs for the renovation of Sainik Bhavans at Karimnagar & Warangal.
- Approved the establishment of a helpline for the Sainik Welfare Department, to be staffed by three Ex-Servicemen or widows of Ex-Servicemen.
- Approved statewide awareness camps on the welfare schemes available for Ex-Servicemen and their families.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor emphasized the importance of caring for Ex-Servicemen and their families, who have devoted their youth to the Nation. He highlighted the need to identify and reach out to every Ex-Serviceman and widow in distress, to understand their challenges and resolve them promptly. He noted that Telangana has set an exemplary model for the country by introducing innovative schemes, digitizing records of all Ex-Servicemen, processing applications online, and ensuring timely disbursement of funds through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.
The Governor conveyed his sincere gratitude to all donors for their generous contributions, with special mention of all Government of Telangana employees and the State Bank of India. He urged citizens and corporate entities to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
