94-Year-Old Army Widow’s Pension Restored After 30 Years, Could be Paid Close to INR 1 Crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention has resulted in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issuing instructions to restore the family pension of a 94-year-old widow of a former Indian Army officer who died almost 30 years ago.

Hebe Benjamin, widow of Late Col George Benjamin of Army Engineers wrote to Modi when no official of the MoD responded positively to her repeated prayers for restoration of family pension for over 29 years.

After PMO’s intervention Hebe Bejamin is expected to be paid a pension upwards of Rs 75 lakh after 29 years. If interest and arrears are paid for all the intervening pay commissions then the figure could even cross Rs 1 crore.

“She had lost all hope. As a last resort Hebe Benjamin wrote to the PM requesting him to restore the pension that was due to her. Col Benjamin had served the Army with pride. After retirement they relocated to Israel. Once he passed away, family pension was no longer being deposited in her account. And Hebe Benjamin had no other sources of income,” Manpreet Kant, a family friend who wrote many letters to MoD, told India Today TV.

There was sadly no response.

When friends and relatives met MoD officials no officer was willing to clear files, especially with the widow now living in Israel. Hebe Benjamin was fighting an uphill battle for a pension that was legally her right. No reason was given for denying her the family pension.

Col Benjamin had served in the Corps of Engineers and retired in 1966. His Indian Commission (IC) number was 2003 – which means he was the 2003rd officer to be commissioned in the Indian Army post independence.

The family wrote to the deputy adjutant in the Adjutant General’s branch repeatedly: “Her husband had passed away in 1990. His pension stopped. The family sought arrears be calculated keeping in mind the 5th, 6th and 7th Pay Commission and interest on pension denied for 29 years. In 1998 she received a letter from Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) (PCDA) Allahabad that pension could be released only after the President decided on the matter. And then there was total silence on the issue.”

With no favourable response, Hebe Benjamin and her daughter even approached the Indian ambassador in Israel. But till July 24, 2018 all the responses received from the government were negative.

“As a last resort she wrote to PM Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army staff (COAS). She requested their personal intervention to ensure her plea be fast track and family pension be restored with arrears and interest,” Manpreet Kant added.

The Prime Minister’s Office sought all facts on the case.

The defence minister directed the case be pursued on a war footing and ordered immediate grievance redressal. The restored family pension is now expected to hit Bejamin’s account by January 31.

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Source: IT

Image Courtesy: IT

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