New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS): India Inc has come together to support the families of CRPF troopers killed and injured in the Pulwama terror attack, at a time when the central government is taking stern economic measures against Pakistan.
In the worst-ever attack in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989, a suicide bomber on Thursday rammed his SUV packed with explosives into a CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Pulwama district, killing as many as 40 troopers and leaving many injured.
Soon after the attack, the government ended the 'most favoured nation' (MFN) status of Pakistan besides hiking customs duty to 200 per cent on all goods imported from the neighbouring country.
On Monday, the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) said it will contribute an amount equivalent to one day's salary of all its group employees to the "Bharat Ke Veer" trust, set up by the government to support the families of the central armed police forces (CAPF) killed or injured in the line of duty.
Other companies such as the State Bank of India (SBI) too has announced special initiatives for the slain CRPF troopers.
"All the CRPF troopers were customers of the bank under the Defence Salary Package where the bank provides insurance of Rs 30 lakh to each of the defence personnel. The bank is taking steps to expedite release of insurance money to the next of kin of the martyred troopers," the SBI said in a statement.
"Twenty-three troopers had availed loans from the SBI. The bank has decided to waive all outstandings with immediate effect," it said.
The bank has also created a unified payments interface (UPI) for the "Bharat Ke Veer" initiative to help people easily make monetary contributions.
SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said: "It is extremely distressing and disturbing to witness the loss of lives of soldiers who always stand for the safety of our country. In this moment of grief, our sincere thoughts are with the families of our brave hearts."
"These initiatives by the bank are a small gesture towards the families which have faced irreparable loss," he added.
The Reliance Foundation said it was ready to "assume full responsibility" for the livelihood of the Pulwama terror attack victims' families, besides taking care of the children's education and employment.
The foundation also said it was prepared to provide "the best possible treatment to the injured troopers."
"We shall also deem it to be our duty to shoulder any responsibility the government may place upon us in service to our beloved armed forces," it said in a statement.
Reliance Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, headed by founder Nita Ambani.
In addition, Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, has offered to bear the education expenses of the children of security personnel killed in the Pulwama attack.
"Bharti Foundation will reach out to the individual families and bear all education related expenses for their children till they graduate from college," the foundation said in a statement.