A MARTYR'S WIDOW FIGHTS A HEARTLESS SYSTEM

Major Sood laid down his life for the country. Four years on, his wife is still waiting for compensation from the state government

- URVI MAHAJANI, S BALAKRISHNAN 

The Maharashtra government has failed to appreciate that due to fortuitous nature, military personnel and their spouses who spend a majority part of their lives being deployed in various states do not get an opportunity to spend or reside for a longer duration of time in one particular state.

Hence, second generation children of defence personnel can never meet the criteria of 'birth' or 'continuous residence for a particular number of years in a state' as since their childhood, they have moved across various states along with their parents.

The contention is raised by Aakriti Sood, widow of late Major Anuj Sood, who after running from pillar to post to get the rightful benefits for exservicemen, has approached before the Bombay High Court. She approached the high court aggrieved by the "insensitive approach" of the government as her repeated requests have fallen on deaf ears in the past four years.

Major Sood, 30, laid down his life on May 2, 2020, while rescuing civilian hostages from terrorist hideouts in Jammu and Kashmir, and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

Aakriti has sought benefits under two government resolutions (GR) of 2019 and 2020.

However, the state has contended that only those who were "born in Maharashtra' or have "lived in the state continuously for 15 years" were eligible for monetary benefit and allowance.

According to her plea, Aakriti, who is daughter of a former navy serviceman, has a domicile certificate dated November 20, 2003. Her father is also a domicile of Maharashtra.

The late major's father was also an ex-serviceman and hence his entire childhood was spent in different states where his father was posted.