CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in his Independence Day speech announced a series of increases in financial assistance and pensions for ex-servicemen, freedom fighters and their families.

• The financial assistance provided for the marriage of two daughters of ex-servicemen will be doubled from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

• The monthly financial assistance for persons with disabilities among ex-servicemen and their family members will be increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

• The monthly pension provided by the State Government to freedom fighters will be increased to Rs 23,000

• The monthly family pension for the families of freedom fighters will be increased to Rs 12,500.

• The monthly special pension for the descendants of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Muthuramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi, the Maruthu Brothers and VO Chidambaranar will be increased to Rs 11,500.