The total number of widows of Ex-Servicemen in the country is 7,40,766 as on December 31, 2024. State/UT-wise data of widows of ESM is given below:

Sl. No.	State/UT	No of Widows Registered
1	ANDHRA PRADESH	26,879
2	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	211
3	ASSAM	10,700
4	BIHAR	12,558
5	CHHATTISGARH	1,525
6	DELHI	14,273
7	GOA	510
8	GUJARAT	5,392
9	HARYANA	58,083
10	HIMACHAL PRADESH	40,232
11	JAMMU AND KASHMIR	22,761
12	JHARKHAND	5,105
13	KARNATAKA	30,552
14	KERALA	71,570
15	MADHYA PRADESH	12,506
16	MAHARASHTRA	67,757
17	MANIPUR	2,113
18	MEGHALAYA	1,517
19	MIZORAM	2,495
20	NAGALAND	993
21	ODISHA	5,988
22	PUNJAB	75,821
23	RAJASTHAN	61,080
24	SIKKIM	416
25	TAMIL NADU	58,283
26	TRIPURA	727
27	TELANGANA	8,109
28	UTTRAKHAND	50,285
29	UTTAR PRADESH	72,071
30	WEST BENGAL	15,808
31	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR (UT)	203
32	CHANDIGARH (UT)	2,490
33	PUDUCHERRY (UT)	886
34	LADAKH (UT)	867
Total		7,40,766

 

The monthly assistance to widows is being provided as family pension. Review of Family Pension is carried out based on recommendations of Pay Commissions and acceptance of the same by the Government. A Dearness Relief, which is assessed periodically may result in an increase in the amount disbursed.

Government reviews the welfare measures for war widows and families of Armed Forces personnel from time-to-time. The details of revision/enhancement made in the schemes are given below:

S No	Scheme/Grants	Amount (in Rs) enhanced w.e.f.
1.	Daughter’s Marriage Grant                       (upto 02 Daughters) (Pensioner/Non-Pensioner upto Hav Rank)	Rs 16,000/- to Rs 50,000/- w.e.f.  April 2016
	Widow Re-Marriage Grant (Pensioner/Non-Pensioner upto Hav Rank) *  If married solemnly on or after 21st  April, 16.
2.	Penury Grant -  65 years and above for ESM & Widows (Non-Pensioners uptoHav or equivalent Rank)	Rs 1,000/- pm to Rs 4,000/-  (Life time) w.e.f.  April 2017
3.	100% Disabled Child Upto JCO extended w.e.f. April 01, 2022	Rs 1,000/- pm to Rs 3,000/- pm w.e.f. April 01, 2021
4.	Orphan Grant (Pensioner/Non-Pensioner for All Ranks) Daughters of ex-servicemen till she is married. One Son of ex-servicemen upto 21 years of age.	Rs 1,000/- pm to Rs 3,000/- pm w.e.f. April 2022
5.	Vocational Training Grant For Widows (Pensioner/Non-Pensioner upto Hav Rank)	Rs 20,000/- to Rs 50,000/- (One Time) w.e.f. August 11, 2023
6.	Medical Treatment Grant (Non-Pensioner upto Hav Rank)	Rs 30,000/- to Rs 50,000/- (Max) w.e.f. August 11, 2023
7.	Serious Diseases Grant (Applicable for all ranks of Non-Pensioners ESM for self and wife/widow)	Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh w.e.f. August 11, 2023
8.	Subsidy on Home Loan. KSB Reimburses 50% of interest by way of subsidy on home loan from Bank/public sector institutions for construction of house to war bereaved, war disabled and attributable peace time casualties. Rs. 1,00,000/- (Max)	Rs 1 lakh

 

9.      Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme: Total 5,500 scholarship are provided to eligible wards based on merit for the entire duration of the courses. With effect from FY 2019-20, the rates of scholarship are as follows:

 (a)   Rs 2,500/- per month for boys.

 (b)   Rs 3,000/- per month for girls.

Details of employment being provided on compassionate grounds to war widows based on their educational qualifications is as follows:

• Officers: Vacancies are reserved for widows of Ex-Servicemen and Wards/Children of Battle Casualty in Officer Selection of Indian Army. They are given preference for Short Service Commission (Technical) and Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) Women entry. Relaxation up to the age of 35 years is also provided to the widows of defence personnel. The vacancies earmarked for various officer entries in Indian Army are as under:

 

S No	Category	Entry	Vacancies
(i)	Widow of Defence Personnel	Short Service Commission (Non-Technical)	01
(ii)	Ward of Battle Casualty of Indian Army Personnel	SSC National Cadet Corps (NCC) Men	07
		SSC National Cadet Corps (NCC) Women	01

 

• Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs)/Other Ranks (OR): War widows of defence personnel who have died in harness are eligible to apply for enrolment as Women Military Police.

• Civil Defence Employment: As per instructions issued by DoP&T vide Office Memorandum (OM) No. 14014/1/2022-Estt(D) dated August 02, 2022 on the subject, compassionate appointment can be granted to the dependent family member of Defence Civilian employee as well as Armed Forces Personnel only against Group ‘C’ direct recruitment post.

Under the Housing Scheme, Army Welfare Housing Organisation has a 3% quota reserved for the widows in each project.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth in a written reply to Shri Niranjan Bishi and Smt Sulata Deo in Rajya Sabha today.

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SR/Savvy/SS

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