Karnataka promises government jobs to kin of soldiers who are martyred in line of duty

The Karnataka government has decided to provide jobs to kin of soldiers who are martyred while on duty. Government jobs will be offered even to the kin of soldiers who are permanently incapacitated in the line of duty. The benefit will be extended to all soldiers hailing from Karnataka.

Rules governing appointments on compassionate grounds are being amended to incorporate the scheme to benefit soldiers and their families in the state. Orders have gone directly from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR). Currently, the rules allow appointments to government jobs on compassionate grounds only for kin of government employees who die while in service.

The same Karnataka government had promised a job to Siachen Braveheart Hanumanthappa Koppad's wife but had failed to fulfil it even after a year. With eyes on the assembly election, the Karnataka government



is announcing a slew of welfare schemes and government jobs to kin of martyrs is the latest addition to it.

The new scheme will apply only to those soldiers who hail from Karnataka, another pro-Kannada push by the Congress in the state. Kin would refer to the spouse or children above the age of 18 years. The benefit will extend to soldiers of the Indian Army or paramilitary forces. Soldiers who are martyred or rendered permanently incapacitated in a war, conflict-zone, internal security situation or a border tension will be eligible for a government job on compassionate grounds. Soldiers who die due to natural calamity will also qualify.

The lack of clarity on service rules and the role of the Army in offering jobs to families of kin had delayed opportunities to the kin of many martyrs. In a bid to put an end to the same, the Karnataka government is all set to make it a rule under the DPAR.