THRISSUR: The Kerala government's policy is to set up rest houses for Saniks in all districts under the auspices of the Sanik Welfare Department, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here Thursday.
Inaugurating the Sanik Rest House and the State-level Awareness Workshop for Ex-servicemen here today, he said his government would do its best for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their problems would be considered with compassion.
Sainik Rest Houses are already functioning in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts,he said.
Work on Malappuram Rest House was completed and for the one at Kottayam was progressing. Renovation of the existing Rest House at Alapuzha has also been completed and they would start functioning shortly, he added.
He said work for Rest Houses for Sainiks in the remaining seven districts would be speeded up, subject to availability of space
The CM said Rs 70.53 lakh were distributed to 153 persons on account of increase in the cash award and arrears last year and about Rs 50 lakh to 90 persons till this year.
An amount of Rs 31.25 lakh was distributed to 21 persons last year from the Chief Minister's Sainik Welfare Fund and Rs 47.5 lakh for 18 persons this year, he said.
He said over Rs 1.65 crore was distributed to 3,976 beneficiaries from the State Military Benevolent Fund and over Rs 40 lakh from the Amalgamated fund to 867 beneficiaries.
The CM also honoured former defence personnel and war-widows on the occasion.