NEW DELHI, Oct. 16 -- Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday approved the doubling of financial assistance provided to non-pensioner ex-servicemen (ESM) and their families, with the welfare measure to cost the government Rs.257 crore every year, the defence ministry said. The announcement made in the run-up to Diwali is expected to benefit around 20,000 people, officials aware of the matter said. Non-pensioner ESM refers to those soldiers who are discharged from service early in their life due to organisational constraints or their own request, the officials said. This category includes officers who take premature retirement before 20 years of service and personnel below officer rank who leave the organisation in less than 15 years. Singh has approved a 100% increase in financial assistance for such ESM and their dependents under schemes implemented by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare through Kendriya Sainik Board, an official statement said, giving details of the welfare measures. "Penury grant has been doubled from Rs.4,000 to Rs.8,000 per month per beneficiary, providing sustained lifetime support to aged and non-pensioner ESM and their widows above 65 years of age with no regular income," it said. Education grant has been doubled too. It will now be Rs.2,000 per month per head for up to two dependent children (class I to graduation) or widows pursuing a two-year postgraduate course. Likewise, the marriage grant has been raised from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh per beneficiary. It will be applicable for up to two daughters of an ESM and for widow remarriage - for marriages solemnised after issuance of the new order....