Ministry of Defence Expands Welfare and Rehabilitation Schemes for Ex-Servicemen

The details of welfare and rehabilitation schemes, financial assistance provided to ex-servicemen/widows and their dependents are as follows:

1.       Financial assistance/ benefits given from Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) under Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF):

 

2.     Serious diseases Grant from AFFD Fund to Non Pensioners ESM of all Ranks:

 

 

3.       Modified Scooter Grant: Rs. One lakh provided to those ESM, who are disabled after service with a disability of 50% or more and who are not covered under the scheme of AG’s Branch of IHQ (Army, Navy & Air Force).

4.       Subsidy on Home Loan:  KSB Reimburses, maximum of Rs. 1.00 Lac i.e. 50% of interest by way of subsidy on home loan from Bank/public sector institutions for construction of house to war bereaved, war disabled and attributable peace time casualties.

5.       Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme: Total 5500 scholarship are provided to eligible wards based on merit for the entire duration of the courses. The rates of Scholarship are as follows:

(a)   Rs. 2500/- per month for boys.

(b)   Rs. 3000/- per month for girls.

6.       Financial support to institutions involved in rehabilitation of ESM: –

 

 

7.       Reservation of seats in Medical/Dental Colleges for wards of Defence Personnel as Government of India Nominee. A total of 42 MBBS seats and 3 seats in BDS courses are allotted by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to KSB for wards of defence personnel as a Government of India nominee. Priority I is given to wards/widows of defence personnel killed in action.

8.       Rail Travel Concession Identity Cards: KSB Sectt issues rail travel concession identity cards to war widows.

DETAILS OF VARIOUS RESETTLEMENT SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED BY DIRECTORATE GENERAL RESETTLEMENT (DGR)

(a)     Upgrading their skills by imparting necessary training to prepare them to take on new assignments/jobs and assisting ESM in finding re-employment.

(b)     Constant endeavour to provide employment opportunities in Government/Quasi Government/Public Sector Organizations.

(c)     Pro-active action to facilitate re-employment of ESM in the Corporate Sector.

(d)     Providing Jobs through the following Schemes for self-employment.

1. Placement Assistance through on-line registration at DGR.
2. DGR Sponsored Security Agency Scheme
3. ESM Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme.
4. Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme.
5. Tipper Attachment Scheme for Widows and Disabled Soldiers.
6. Management of IGL/ MNGL CNG Stations by ESM in NCR/Pune.
7. Management of Company Owned Company Operated Retail Outlets.
8. Issue of DGR Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of LPG/Retail Outlet (Petrol/Diesel) Distributorship advertised by Oil Marketing Companies against 8% Reservation Quota.
9. Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk Booths and Fruit & Vegetable (Safal) Shops in NCR.
10. DGR Technical Service Scheme.
11. Resettlement Training/ Skill Development Courses.

9.       Reservation in employment: The existing quota of reservations in employment is available for Ex-servicemen (ESM) in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) is 14.5% in all Direct Recruitment Group ‘C’ Posts and 24.5% in all Direct Recruitment Group ‘D’ Posts. This includes 4.5% for Disabled ESM and Dependents of Service personnel killed in action.

Raksha Mantri Discretionary Fund has been renamed as Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF). The details of payments made to the beneficiaries of ESM and their dependents under (RMEWF) for the last three years is as under:-

The details of main activities of Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and the manner in which it is beneficial for ESM and their families are as follows:

KSB organize and conduct following: –

1. The meeting of KSB and Director, DSW / Secy, RSBs
2. Annual Meeting of Management Committee of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
3. Periodic meetings of the Executive Committee of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund.
4. Progressing implementation of the decisions taken with concerned agencies.
5. Provide policy directive, as approved by the MoD, to Depts. of Sainik Welfare in States / UTs on matters of welfare of Ex-Servicemen.
6. Monitor and guide the Depts. of Sainik Welfare in the States in their functioning as per guidelines laid down by KSB / Ministry of Defence.
7. Provide budgetary support for establishment and maintenance costs of Depts. of Sainik Welfare and Zila Sainik Welfare Offices to State / UTs.
8. Attend as member of the Selection Committee convened invariably under the Chief Secretary of the State for selection of Director, Dept of Sainik Welfare / Secretary RSB and Zila Sainik Welfare Officer / Secretary ZSB convened one month prior to the post falling vacant.
9. Inspect the Department of Sainik Welfare of States / UTs each year and report on their functioning to State Govt / MoD.
10. Attend Rajya Sainik Board and Amalgamated Fund Meeting in States as special invitee.
11. Administer Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF).
12. Deal with redressal and queries related to welfare of Ex-Servicemen and families of deceased service personnel.
13. Operate the Scheme for allotment of Medical, Dental and Engineering seats under Ministry of Defence quota.
14. Organize and conduct ‘Armed Forces Flag Day Collection’ at Central Govt. Depts. located at Delhi.
15. Provide flags, posters and publicity material for conduct of the AFFD in States / UTs and Indian Mission abroad.
16. Operation of centrally sponsored schemes such as RMEWF (Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund) and PM Scholarship Schemes.
17. Issue I-Card for availing Rail Travel Concession to War Widows.
18. Provide financial assistance to paraplegic homes at PRC Kirkee & Mohali, 36 War Memorial Hostels, Cheshire Homes and various institutes and visit them to check its proper distribution.
19. Advise on the correct investment of the Amalgamated Fund by the RSBs of the States / UTs.
20. Inspect ZSBs at random to check their functioning and effectiveness.
21. All activities mentioned above cater for providing financial assistance related to welfare of ESM /Widows/wards and to redressal of grievances through 34 Rajya Sainik Boards and 413 Zila Sainik Boards, across the country.

A single window online grievance redressal mechanism (CPGRAMS) was launched by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievance in which any citizen can lodge grievances online and get response from the concerned department by clicking a single click on the portal. The Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare has extended this online grievance redressal mechanism (CPGRAMS/CPENGRAMS) to ex-servicemen also so that the grievances of Ex-servicemen can be redressed efficiently and in a time bound manner. The link of CPGRAMS/CPENGRAMS website has also been given in the website of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, CGDA and all Pension Sanctioning Authorities so that ex-servicemen can lodge their grievances in any websites from their home by clicking on the pgportal.gov.in. Further, a dedicated portal (Raksha Pension Shikayat Nivaran Portal) for redressal of Pension grievances of Ex-servicemen (ESM) has been launched on 14th January, 2022. A Toll-free Number 1800111971 has also been made operational in order to facilitate the ESM pensioners for smooth redressal of their grievances.