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#BirthOfAForcesWidow A very strange # right? Over next one year I will take you through a widows life. Not a Veer Naari (whatever it means @adgpi ) but a widow due to heart attack of husband, a Havildar. The ‘wife’ died day before and a ‘Widow’ was born. Two daughters, 12-15 yrs.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow The funeral was held day before. Military Honours. The shock, uncertain future, two daughters, hounding relatives, CSD Card, ECHS Card, AWES schemes, heartless officials and more awaits her. Till 13 days, terahvi, it’s shock, thereafter a sledgehammer awaits!
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 3rd Tweet Accompany me on Twitter for one year. I am taking you to look at life of a Forces Widow. Widowed due to heart attack to husband. I have decided to meet the family in a week. Even before 13 days of death. Let’s see what awaits me.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 4th Tweet It’s bitter cold in Delhi & Punjab. I leave tomorrow morning at 6am by road to Punjab, 425km to meet the widow. Two daughters 13&15. I already have a gentleman who has given word to fund education of kids of widow. That’s my NATIONALIST. JAIHIND!
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 5th Tweet Good Morning, Left for Uchhi Village xxxx in Punjab, to meet family of a unit soldier who died on 31 Dec. Will reach by 2pm. Will return back after meeting. In next two days I will have TWENTY TWEETS that will bring out the “mess” in Widows Welfare.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 6th Tweet See the pic. Few veterans of my unit accompanied me to meet the widow and her two daughters. On 31 Oct 2019 her husband was coming on pension. Daughters are in class 6&8. The lady is in absolute shock. Shock of HOW do we survive now? 
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 7th Tweet See the pic. During her hysteric crying, I made her get all bank pass books she had. Seven came out. Army requires one SINGLE ACCOUNT for pension. Obvious it’s widows. She thought it’s husbands. I checked each and put a X and wrote MAIN on one.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 8th Tweet Back home after 955kms, 21 hours on road and meeting widow and veterans. It’s 1am. Will sleep peacefully since the satisfaction of serving men and families after retirement has its own charm.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 9th Tweet Today I will take you through what the country gives to a Veteran, Widow, the “Veer Naari”. @adgpi . is least bothered for soldiers widows IF the soldier died as Physical Casualty (not a battle casualty). Do widows choose mode of death of husband?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 10th Tweet To understand these tweets under #BirthOfAForcesWidow , I will request you to read FORTY TWEETS that I wrote in Dec 2018 about pathetic state of Veterans & Widows. These 40 Tweets need to reach @PMOIndia @nsitharaman
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 11th Tweet Lets see the EX-GRATIA and WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). 16 pages, I will take you through each. 1/16 Para 1. Central Govt See (i) Applicability-If it’s ‘Not Arrtibutable to Mil Service’ you don’t get it. The soldier is in uniform 24X7.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 12th Tweet Lets see the EX-GRATIA and WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). 16 pages, I will take you through each. 1/16 Para (b). ‘Liberalised Family Pension’ is 100% of last pay drawn. Who decides? Why? This term needs to be removed. All should get.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 13th Tweet EX-GRATIA and WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). Veer Naari is hidden in (ii) to (vi) 2% of widows. Attributability - Another 10%- Where are 88% widows? Liberalised Family Pension 2% get it. Where are 98% widows? Page 1 is SAVINGS for nation.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 14th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 2. The joke continues. Gives air concession by Air India 75% & 50% of what? Basic fare. For whom? Read applicability. Now read rail & applicability. Use? Go where? 100% widows get nothing.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 15th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 2 contd..See bottom part. Reservation of seats... Its Zila/Rajya Sainik Bd. It’s for War Widows and Gallantry Award winners same like Air and Rail (no one uses). 98% widows get nothing.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 16th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 2 contd..See bottom part. In 21st century we have ‘telephone rentals at 50% & no installation charges”. You will not even laugh. 100% widows don’t use. Score? Page 1&2 are ZILCH FOR WIDOWS.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 17th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 3 DCRG-Applicabke to every Central Govt employee. Sainik and Military Schools-for Serving and ESM. MBBS & BDS for War Widows, Killes in Action, Disabled, Attributable to Mil Service.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 18th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 3 Last 3 lines, 10%-20% reservations in CAPF + other. For who? Criteria? It’s BC, Gallantry Award winners, ESM etc. So PAGE 3 has NOTHING FOR WIDOWS OF PHYSICAL CAS. 98% widows left out.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 19th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). We were at ZERO benefit to 98% widows from Central Govt Schemes. PAGE 4 see top 2 entries. CPSE and Nationalised banks have 24.5% Gp D posts of which ONLY 4.5% are for Disabled and Widows.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 20th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 4 see top 2 entries. Convert 4.5% for Disabled and Widows to actual figures. For each post, there are 1000 contenders. Central Govt Schemes FINISH HERE. 99.99% Widows get ZERO % benefit.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 21st Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 4 and 5 be seen together. It’s ARMY now. Para 3 (a) (i) is for Fatal Battle Casualties. 2% widows benefit. Get Rs 2 lacs. 98% widows get nothing here. See Para 3 (a) (ii) & Page 5 complete.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 22nd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 4 Para 3 (a) (ii) to Page 5 Para (vii). Covers Widow who is NOT wife of a Battle Casualty & comprise 98% of Widows. Gets Rs 2,50,000/- under (ii). Next two (iii ) & (iv) are not applicable.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 23rd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 5 Sub Para (v), (vi) & (vii). Here Rs 400/- per child to a widow of physical casualty for school, Rs one lac for daughters marriage & 20-50K for widows education is in scheme. Kids college?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 24th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 5 School fees in most places is peanuts. Even this 400/- needs to be ‘applied for’. Daughters marriage? Paperwork at Dist Soldier Bd kills them. A spelling mistake and grant is denied.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 25th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 5 It’s fine to ‘publish’ grant of fees, exp for daughters marriage & higher education for widows. Why not publish exact mode, paperwork, AND organisation resp to see these reach the widows?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 26th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 6 & 7. (viii), (ix) & (x) are meant for a widow. My question. Does the widow know? Where does she go to claim? Unless guided, not even one widow knows about it. Next Group Insurance.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 27th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 6 & 7. Insurance-A widow gets Rs 40 lacs. Nothing else in Para (b) is specially applicable for widows. Next AWWA. Para C (i) is prompt. Widow gets Rs 15K. Period. Edn S’ship? Procedure?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 28th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 6 & 7. AWWA (iii)&(iv) Widows don’t know Now NIRUPA ROY syndrome. 100% disabled soldiers wife gets SEWING MACHINE! to stitch clothes for living. And this is from ARMY WIVES WELFARE ASN!
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 29th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 6 & 7. QMG and Regt Centred (d) and (e) for 2% WAR WIDOWS, Physical Casualty widows left out. AWHO at (f) - nothing specified. CW3&4-Distress Grant- Case to Case. Edn Schp for BATTLE CAS.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 30th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 6 & 7. Summarising Page 6 & 7. There is nothing or peanuts if any for 98% Widows. Nothing. Does a widow becomes one by choice? Did her husband have choice where he dies? Why discriminate?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 31st Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 8. Both Central Govt and Army are done. It’s KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD at Page 8. 50K for daughters marriage. Is it over and above Army? Rest entire page doesn’t affect 100% widows.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 32nd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 9. (l), (m) and (b) are either not applicable or just for War Widows. 98% widows get nothing. See MISC BENEFITS. AFPP & Leave are soldiers own. ECHS is Cent Govt Medical Scheme. What’s left?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 33rd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 10 Top half has NOTHING for a Widow. Bottom half is for disabled. So Page 10 is ZILCH for Widows. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 10.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 34th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 11 Schemes for disabled continue. NOTHING for a Widow. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 11.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 35th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 12 Continues for disabled. NOTHING for a Widow. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 12.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 36th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 13 Continues for disabled. NOTHING for a Widow. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 13.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 37th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 14 Continues for disabled. NOTHING for a Widow. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 14.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 38th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 15. NOTHING for a Widow. 100% Widows get nothing from Page 15.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 39th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). FINALLY ON LAST PAGE. PAGE 16. 0.1% War Widows, IF IF IF their husbands were decorated get something. NOTHING for a Widow (Physical Casualty). 99.9% Widows get nothing from Page 16.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 40th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 1 TO 16 throw up disturbing questions Q1-Is a woman ‘widow’ by choice? Q2-Did her husband have a choice ‘where’ to die? Q3-Did he ‘want’ to die? Then WHY DISCRIMINATE 2% vs 98% widows?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 41st Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). PAGE 16 Read the second line in orange strip on bottom of page. NO ONE WINDOW option. No one knows who gives what. List of organisations is mind boggling. 1. Central Govt. 2. Army HQ contd.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 42nd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). Contd. 3. CW3&4 4. AGIF 5. ECHS 6. CSD 7. Kendriya Sainik Board 8. Rajya Sainik Bd 9. Zilla Sainik Bd 10. AWES for fees. 11. DOPT&M 12. Educational Institutions 13. Station HQ 14. PCDA contd..
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 43rd Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). Contd. 15. Banks 16. PSUs 16. DIAV 17. 18. AWWA 19. QMG Br 20. Regtl Centres 21. AWHO 22. PMSS 23. War Memorial Hostels IS A FORCES WIDOW EMPLOYED FULL TIME TO HANDLE THIS? When 99% are excluded?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 44th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). Does this👇🏻widow & her two daughters know what awaits them? A sledgehammer called ‘insensitivity’, exploitation of widowhood for publicity, discrimination by splitting ‘Veer Naari’& other widows.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 45th Tweet EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM (Veteran). Either 👇🏻 this widow will get LIBERALISED FAMILY PENSION(100% of last revised entitlement) or ENHANCED FP(50%) or ORDINARY FP(30%). These are Central Govt rules. Managing resources is the issue.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 46th Tweet This Widow will get either Rs 40,000/-(Liberalised) OR Rs 20,000/-(Enhanced) OR Rs 12,000/-(Ordinary) pension. Hav retires at 24 yrs&Jawan at 17 that’s 37 yrs or 44 yrs of age. Kids are in nursery or sec school. In a split world turns upside down.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 47th Tweet Getting on with our journey with this newly born(31-12-2018) widow. Salary stopped soon as intimation of death sent by unit to all concerned. There will be no credit of pension till all documents reach PAO. Officially one cheque of 15K has reached.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 48th Tweet The system is heartless & insensitive. Even Army is. Why can’t an IMMEDIATE relief be given to time it with recording of death? UNITS ARE SENSITIVE. They value their dead. The unit voluntarily collected over Rs ONE LAC & handed to widow on 10 Jan.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 49th Tweet Rs 40K will reach widow tomorrow. Rs 15K of AWWA (see page 6 below) & Rs 25K of a smaller grant not shown on 16 pages of WELFARE SCHEMES 👇🏻. Imagine the uncertainty. Unit is in contact (one way). She has me and calls frequently. Other widows?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 50th Tweet this thread is about a Forces Widow “born” on 01 Jan 2019. While world was in hangover, this lady’s first Sunday in 2019 brought widowhood. I am taking you on a 365 day walk with this widow and will end on 01 Jan 2020. The widow is #22DayOld today.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 51st Tweet The widowhood is #26DayOld today. See 49th Tweet. Another four cheques of 50K, 15K, 10K and 5K reached the widow. NONE of the above are covered in 👇🏻. Isn’t it strange? What use are these 👇🏻👇🏻16 pages when right hand doesn’t know what left does?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 52nd Tweet #31stDayofWidowhood Welfare Scheme for Widows👇🏻. Only one cheque of Rs 15K out of anything mentioned for a widows has been received. Nothing else. AGIF- Someone said Insurance is paid within 30 days. No, nothing so far.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 53rd Tweet #31stDayofWidowhood SLEDGEHAMMER HITS!! Hello Widow, You were waiting for Insurance money to reach in 30 days!!! Here is my letter in ENGLISH, having requirements that will tire you out. I care a damn that your husband died. Read my para FOUR.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 54th Tweet #34thDayofWidowhood SLEDGEHAMMER CONTINUES!! AFFIDAVIT - Why? It’s all in records. Just digitise it. 18th century. How does LIC settle claims? FAMILY DETAILS??- It’s part of recruitment process for existing family, Part 2 Orders for wife and kids.
To understand there are two threads. #BirthOfAForcesWidow started on 02 Jan 19 and 40 tweet thread of 12 Dec 18 about pathetic state of Veterans & Widows. It’s on 👉🏻 twitter.com/colsanjaypande… Addressing issues will WIN 36 lac Veterans and Widows for ever. @PMOIndia @nsitharaman
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 55th Tweet #37thDayofWidowhood The Widow has a smile today because of unflinching support of her husbands unit. Documents prepared after death as per requirement of Army were submitted to Records. This starts the process. Her insurance papers are a challenge.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 56th Tweet #43rdDayofWidowhood Unit is putting in all energy to get the papers relating to death submitted in Record Office. Documents being resubmitted. Her insurance papers were made by veterans staying nearby. #OneWindow ?? Officially👇🏻only 15K so far!
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #50thDayofWidowhood 57th Tweet. Remember her husband died of heart attack on duty, wearing uniform at 0005h on 01 Jan 2019? Today is FIFTIETH day. Officially👇🏻only 15K so far! The system is rotten, old, vintage, bullock cart driven with no one interested.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #50thDayofWidowhood 58th Tweet. MEETING the widow & two daughters tomorrow. I met them on 12th day after death. No activity in bank except for Rs 15 K. Imagine. Salary was stopped within 24 hrs of death. I have spoken to widow every alternate day since death.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #60thDayofWidowhood 59th Tweet. Let not the current situation drown the pain of this widow. 60th day of widowhood. Officially ONLY Rs 15,000/- deposited in her account so far. Salary stopped 60 days back. Two daughters. Class VI & VIII. No insurance money.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #61stDayofWidowhood 60th Tweet. AT LAST. First credit of insurance money. Rs 10 lacs. Took 61 days for AGIF to clear this amount. No papers giving details. Just an SMS from bank. A specialist organisation with 100% inhouse clients should clear in 7 days.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #68thDayofWidowhood 61st Tweet. SMS from bank informed the widow of Rs 10 lac credit from AGIF. Widow has not received any letter giving details. Unit received a copy today. Rs 40 lacs insurance. 30 lacs retained & invested by AGIF. Another SMS of Rs 60K. ??
#BirthOfAForcesWidow #75thDayofWidowhood 62nd Tweet. It has taken 75 days for substantial money to be credited in bank. I assure that financially the widow and two daughters will not be on roads. But. But. There are NO letters to support money being credited. It's bank SMS only.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 82nd day of widowhood. 63rd Tweet. Left home at 5am by road to meet this widow. 2nd visit. 470 km to her home in Punjab. She has placed her 100% money, kids future, decisions relating to her future etc on me. Reason? Unflinching trust on uniform. That’s ARMY.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 82nd day of widowhood. 64th Tweet. Reached the home of the deceased soldier at 12 noon. Spent time with the widow and two daughters. Pension nowhere on horizon. Some money in bank but not even one letter to date that gives details. How can anyone live?
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 105th day of widowhood. 65th Tweet. Insurance money reached but no details. Rs 10 lacs with held for one year? No reasons given. Ordinary Pension papers sent to Allahabad May start in 2-3 months. A country that reaches Mars cannot deliver papers within India.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 120th day of widowhood. 66th Tweet. Death took place on 01 Jan 2019. DEATH CERTIFICATE is signed on 29 Apr 2019. Can you see the agony, pain and trouble of widow? She is HSC, a woman with rural background. Death takes place in unit way way away.
#BirthOfAForcesWidow 134th day of widowhood. 67th Tweet. FINALLY the PPO (Pension Paying Order) is released. PPO is a written document directing bank to pay xx amount of pension. It now enters banks process pipeline. First pension expected on 30 Jun.
