Kalavati works in a small shoe shop in Lothkunta. Married to an army man, she never imagined he would abandon her after his retirement and leave her to fend for herself.

“We were managing fine with his pension and other facilities extended to us because of his service in the army. But since past two years, he has abandoned us, giving no financial aid and is living in Srikakulam. He is an alcoholic and had a spate of extra-marital affairs,” said Kalavati who had to withdraw two of her daughters from college after she was abandoned.

Captain (Retd) P. Satya Prasad, zilla sainik welfare officer in Visakhapat-nam, says Kalavati’s is not an isolated case. Instances of ex-servicemen abandoning their families for extra-marital affairs and alcoholism are piling up.

Brigadier (Retd) C.S. Vidyasagar, director, Sainik Welfare Board, AP, told Deccan Chronicle that as per defence ministry rules, ex-servicemen who do not support their families after retirement are liable to part with half their pension.

“However, the instructions for doing so have to come from court. So, we send all the victims to the family court. But the procedure is long and in most cases, the victims don’t have enough money for the legal aid. In such cases, we request our ex-servicemen lawyers to fight their cause for a nominal fee, sponsored by the Sainik Welfare Board,” Brig. Vidyasagar said.

He said the Board will soon request the governing committee to increase the financial aid of Rs 5,000 that it provides because it hardly meets the needs of families in distress.

“Many times we write directly to the banks where the ex-serviceman in question gets the pension, but only 10 percent of bank managers respond,” Capt. Prasad said.