Way back in 1975, when I was awarded the President’s Police and Fire Service Medal for Gallantry for my derring-do in an encounter with Naga insurgents in Tamenglong district of Manipur, I sent a copy of the Government’s Gazette Notification to the Tamil Nadu Government as I hail from that State. While I expected to be given a piece of land in my native district of Tiruchirappalli, all that I got by way of a reply was the Government of India notification laying down the rules governing the award of the said medal which I already had. In course of time, I realised that my State chooses to ignore its policemen for their gallant action. Thankfully, during the last few years, the State has been paying a solatium of ₹1 crore for those who lay down their lives in the course of their duties. While the policemen are given a step-motherly treatment, personnel from the defence services are treated with some modicum of respect, not just in Tamil Nadu but in several other States too.
Better monetary grants
While defence personnel are paid handsome monetary grants by certain States, several others turn parsimonious. While Telangana Government’s grant is ₹2.25 crore for winners of Param Vir Chakra (PVC) (the highest war time gallantry award) and the Ashoka Chakra (highest peace time gallantry award), and ₹1.25 crore for Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) (second highest war time gallantry award) and the Kirti Chakra (second highest peace time gallantry award), Tamil Nadu government’s monetary grants are ₹25 lakh, ₹20 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh for the PVC, the Ashoka Chakra, the MVC and the Kirti Chakra, respectively.
