Gadchiroli, Maharashtra:
They had to bear one of the toughest sacrifices - losing their loved ones to Naxals in Gadchiroli. But the widows of commandos, who lost their lives battling Naxals, are now facing more trouble as they have still not received the entire compensation promised to them by the Government.
Between 2001 and 2010, 96 C-60 commandos were killed in anti-Naxal operations in Gadchiroli.
"After our men were killed they came and told us we are like family. But two years have passed since my husband's death and no one has bothered about our plight," said Smita Damodar Maitam, who lost her husband to the Naxals.
"We have not got a house yet. They have not given my daughter the job they promised. It's been two years," says the mother of a deceased soldier.
Their men were elite C-60 commandos -- the crack unit set up to fight Naxals in the forests of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, a battle the unit fights everyday with little training and arms.
Drawn from the tribal community, their knowledge of local topography gives them an advantage in operations.
However, their families allege this contribution goes unrewarded.
Vaishali Gyaneshwar Shep whose husband was killed in 2009 in the Mungner encounter says, "Under an earlier government order, people who joined the force after 2005 were not eligible for pension. R R patil got that changed but 6 months after that G R was issued and pension is yet to come through. It's been 2 years and my savings are almost over."
The Maharashtra government gives a compensation of Rs 25 lakh in the event of a C 60 commando's death which goes into a fixed deposit for 10 years.Also a house, free schooling for the children and job for a family member.
Many women are yet to get a house, a critical package not delivered in totality to any of these mothers and widows.
"The problem is our in-laws have taken a share of our compensation but they have thrown us out. Our children have been denied a share in their father's property," says one of them.
Maharashtra's Home Minister admitted to NDTV that houses have not been provided but denies non delivery of any of the other benefits.
It's not the compensation these women are grieving about but the indifference of the government towards the sacrifice their men made for the country. Almost two years later, many of the promises made seem to have been forgotten.
Between 2001 and 2010, 96 C-60 commandos were killed in anti-Naxal operations in Gadchiroli.
"After our men were killed they came and told us we are like family. But two years have passed since my husband's death and no one has bothered about our plight," said Smita Damodar Maitam, who lost her husband to the Naxals.
"We have not got a house yet. They have not given my daughter the job they promised. It's been two years," says the mother of a deceased soldier.
Their men were elite C-60 commandos -- the crack unit set up to fight Naxals in the forests of Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, a battle the unit fights everyday with little training and arms.
Drawn from the tribal community, their knowledge of local topography gives them an advantage in operations.
However, their families allege this contribution goes unrewarded.
Vaishali Gyaneshwar Shep whose husband was killed in 2009 in the Mungner encounter says, "Under an earlier government order, people who joined the force after 2005 were not eligible for pension. R R patil got that changed but 6 months after that G R was issued and pension is yet to come through. It's been 2 years and my savings are almost over."
The Maharashtra government gives a compensation of Rs 25 lakh in the event of a C 60 commando's death which goes into a fixed deposit for 10 years.Also a house, free schooling for the children and job for a family member.
Many women are yet to get a house, a critical package not delivered in totality to any of these mothers and widows.
"The problem is our in-laws have taken a share of our compensation but they have thrown us out. Our children have been denied a share in their father's property," says one of them.
Maharashtra's Home Minister admitted to NDTV that houses have not been provided but denies non delivery of any of the other benefits.
It's not the compensation these women are grieving about but the indifference of the government towards the sacrifice their men made for the country. Almost two years later, many of the promises made seem to have been forgotten.
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