The President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Vice President, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Union Minister for Defence, Mr. Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries at the Defence Investiture Ceremony II, at the Defence Investiture Ceremony II, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on May 07, 2016.
New Initiative By Government
New Delhi (PIb-GR-TYP-BIN): In a new initiative, the government has decided that as a mark of respect and to extend honour to the parents of the posthumous gallantry awardee, the mother/father of the awardee can accompany the Next of Kin (NoK) when she/he receives the award from the President of India during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The government’s new initiative was introduced during the Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-II) which was held at Durbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhawan, on May 7. Out of 14 Gallantry awards presented at the ceremony, two Kirti Chakra and four Shaurya Chakra were conferred posthumously.
Accordingly, at the ceremony, Smt. Monalisha Borah Koch, wife of Constable Gautam Koch, Assam Armed Branch, was accompanied by his mother Smt. Putuli Koch and Smt. Nisha Devi, wife of Naib Subedar Rajesh Kumar of Mahar Regiment/30th Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles was accompanied by his father Mr. Rup Chand to receive the Kirti Chakra award from the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. Similarly, in one case of Shaurya Chakra, Smt. Timu Devi, wife of Sepoy Dharma Ram of Mahar Regiment/1st Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles was accompanied by his mother Smt. Amru Devi.
As per the dispensation till the last Investiture Ceremony, the NoK of the posthumous awardee alone received the award from the President. The new dispensation to honour the parents of the posthumous awardees was appreciated by one and all.
A total of 42 distinguished Service Awards namely, 13 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yuddh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 25 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, which were announced on Republic Day – 2016 were also given to officers of the three Services during the function.
The President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Vice President, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Union Minister for Defence, Mr. Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries at the Defence Investiture Ceremony II, at the Defence Investiture Ceremony II, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on May 07, 2016.
(Source: PIB/GR/TYP/BIN/USPA/WN/IAIJ)