Armymen in field area get hike in allowances

The Union Cabinet today decided to hike monetary allowances and other facilities for armed forces personnel deployed in high altitudes or engaged in counter insurgency operations.

New Delhi, Aug 2 : The Union Cabinet today decided to hike monetary allowances and other facilities for armed forces personnel deployed in high altitudes or engaged in counter insurgency operations.

"Now, the personnel serving in field high altitude area, in counter insurgency, counter terrorism specified areas, would be eligible for one additional free railway warrant without any distance restrictions," Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters here after the weekly meeting.

Dasmunshi added that officers serving in high altitude area would get allowances at the rate of 5, 600 rupees, while other rank personnel would get 3, 734 rupees per month.

The decision comes in the wake of the reported cases of a large number of suicides or fratricidal tendencies by the stressed out armed forces personnel posted in difficult situations.

The new allowances and benefits meant for the army officials would cost the government exchequer an additional one billion rupees.

ANI