Defence officers in peace areas to get ration benefit in cash

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) The government on Wednesday said it has rejected the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation for withdrawal of provision of free ration and ration money allowance to officers of defence forces posted in peace areas and decided that the benefit of free ration will be given to such personnel in cash.

Almost 43,000 officers will benefit from the decision, sources said.

Official sources said the government considered the recommendation and took a different view given the critical role of the armed forces.

They said it was decided that the ration money allowance should be continued. While officers posted in forward stations will continue to get free ration without any change, those posted in peace stations will be provided the facility in cash which would be credited directly into their bank account.

Sources said that this will benefit approximately 43,000 officers. There is also no change in ration allowance for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBORs) numbering more than nine lakh.

The Seventh Pay Commission, in its recommendations to the government on pay and allowances of the armed forces, had said that the provision of free ration and the grant of ration money allowance to officers posted in peace areas should be withdrawn.

As for the ongoing case in this regard in a tribunal, the sources said the government will give the rationale behind the decision in the judicial process as and when a notice in this regard is received.

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