Hike in pension to benefit 12 lakh jawans: PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the government's decision to increase the pension of retired jawans and Junior Commission Officers (JCOs) will benefit 12 lakh ex-servicemen and their families.

"We have accepted the recommendations of the committee constituted to examine the issue of pension of ex-servicemen. This will lead to increased pension for about 12 lakh retired jawans and JCOs," Singh said in his address after unfurling the national flag at the ramparts of Red Fort here on the occasion of 63rd Independence Day.

"We are proud of our brave soldiers. It is our duty to ensure the ex-servicemen are able to lead a life of comfort," he added.

Meeting a long-pending demand, the government had last month announced in the General Budget that it accepted the recommendations of Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar to substantially increase the pension of retired Army men.

The revised pension was implemented beginning July this year and it was an attempt to bring it as nearer to the 'One Rank-One Pension' demand of armed forces as possible.

The decision to increase the pension for defence personnel would cost the exchequer over Rs 2,100 crore annually.