Resettlement & Welfare Schemes for Veterans

Introduction Facilities and Schemes Pension to Armed Forces Personnel PM'S Scholarship Scheme for wards of ex-servicemen/windows  Introduction The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)  as adopted  by the Government, envisaged setting up of a new Department  of  Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence.   A new Department called “Department  of Ex-Servicemen  Welfare”  was created  on 22nd September, 2004.  The main  objective of creating a new Department  of Ex-Servicemen  Welfare is to give focused attention to the welfare programmes  or ex-servicemen and their dependants including pensionary  benefits, re-employment and rehabilitation.  The Department   has been allocated the following broad functions to look after:- (a)        All aspects of re-settlement and welfare of ex-servicemen  and their dependents, including liaison with State Governments. (b)        Ex-Servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme. (c)        Matters relating to the Directorate General of Resettlement  and Kendriya Sainik Board. (d)        Administration of – i.   the Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961 (Part I and II),  ii.   the Pension Regulations for the Air Force, 1961 (Part  Iand II.  iii.  The Navy (Pension) Regulations, 1964, and  iv.  The Entitlement Rules to Casualty Pensionary Awards to  the Armed Forces Personnel, 1982. In order to maintain a youthful profile of the Armed Forces,  approximately 60,000 service personnel are retired/released  every year at a comparatively younger age.  At the time of r etirement, majority of service personnel are at an age where  hey have numerous unfinished family and other social  responsibilities which necessitates taking up a second  occupation.  There are about 19.50 lakhs ex-servicemen  (ESM) and about 4 lakhs widows registered. as on 30th  June, 2005.  The ESM population is mainly concentrated  in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana,  Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.  The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry  of Defence is the apex wing of the Government in the  Ministry of Defence to formulate   various policies for the  welfare and resettlement of ESM in the country.  The  Department  has two Divisions, Resettlement and  Pension Division. The Department is assisted by  two Inter Services Organizations, Directorate General  of Resettlement (DGR)  and Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB).   Whereas the KSB, which is headed by Raksha Mantri as  an ex-officio President of the Board, lays down general  policies for the welfare of ESM and their dependents  and also for administration of welfare funds, the office  of Directorate General of Resettlement implements various  policies/ schemes/programmes adopted by the Government.   The Directorate General of resettlement has five  Director  Resettlement Zones (DRZs) in five  Army Commands.  The KSB/Directorate General of Resettlement  are also  assisted in their task by various Rajya Sainik Boards/ Zila Sainik Boards which are under the administrative  control of respective state governments.  The Government  of India bears 50% of the expenditure incurred  on the  organisation of RSBs while the remaining 50% expenditure  is borne by the respective state governments, since the  welfare and resettlement of ESM is the joint responsibility  of the central government as well as the state governments. The Director General of Resettlement (DGR) under the  Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare looks after all matters  connected with the re-settlement and welfare of ex-servicemen  and their dependents. Click here to more READ