Consolation subsidies for China's war veterans, disabled soldiers and families of martyrs increased to 15.1 billion yuan (2.16 billion U.S. dollars) last year, the highest over the years, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The subsidies increased by 4.2 billion yuan year on year, said a ministry spokesman here at a national conference.

Among the increases, pensions for disabled soldiers saw an average growth of 30 percent to 18,900 yuan annually, while pension for families of martyrs and deceased soldiers was up 20 percent to 6,000 yuan a year. Red Army veterans could now get an annual pension of 13,680 yuan, up 20 percent.

The allowance includes medical subsidies, professional training fees and special funds for wheelchairs of disabled veterans and other support facilities such as artificial limbs.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2008)