JAMMU: On Saturday, when Deputy Chief Minister Prof Nirmal Singh visited the residence of BSF brave-heart Gurnam Singh to offer condolence to the family members he has promised all the necessary support to them including the provision of job to the next of the kin besides ensuring that the ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh (from the Centre) and Rs 1 lakh from the state government would be provided to them at the earliest.
However, the statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister has led to more confusion. Reason the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir in July 1999 had already enhanced the ex-gratia relief from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
According to the Government Order No 805 GAD of 1999 dated 15th July 1999 in partial modification to the Government Order No 179 GAD of 1994 dated 17th February 1994 sanction is hereby accorded to the enhancement of ex-gratia relief from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in respect of next of kin of security forces including defence personnel killed in operations who are permanent residents of J&K. The increase in the grant of ex-gratia relief shall have effect from 1st May 1999.
Now the question arises if the State Government had already enhanced the ex-gratia relief from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh in 1999 under which head Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday announced that an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh from the State Government would be provided to the next of kin at the earliest. The Government order also raises a question mark on the functioning of the State Government as one arm of the state government was not aware what the other arm is doing.
The confusion was created in the minds of the close relatives of the brave son of the soil and the senior officers of the state government as the State Information Department or the General Administration Department had not circulated any official handout or comprehensive statement with regard to the cabinet decision taken by the Mehbooba Mufti led Cabinet in Srinagar on 13th October, 2016.
In a separate statement issued by the media cell of State BJP unit on 15th October, 2016 Dr. Nirmal Singh, had stated that it has happened for the first time in the history of J&K that any government has honoured the sensitivity of its coalition partner, the BJP, and unanimously taken a cabinet decision to treat the martyrs of army and other central security forces at par with those of J&K Police and provide them ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh and a job under SRO-43 to one of the member of the bereaved family. He said that although Rs. 5 lakh cannot provide succour for long but a government job under SRO-43 will prove a lifelong assistance to the affected family.
Members of the Sainik Welfare Board while commenting on the confusing statements made by the senior functionaries of the State Government claimed instead of announcing an enhanced ex-gratia the Deputy Chief Minister had reduced the existing amount. He said it is nothing but a clear cut case of discrimination with martyrs belonging to Jammu region. Referring to previous decisions made by the successive State Governments he said in July 2013 J&K Government had announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the four persons killed in the security forces firing in Gool area of Ramban district.
The relief was sanctioned at a Cabinet meeting chaired by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The meeting also ordered appointment of one member from each bereaved family in government service on compassionate grounds.