Lok Sabha Question No. 1869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: ECHS Facilities to World War II Veterans
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1869

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd JULY, 2019

## ECHS FACILITIES TO WORLD WAR II VETERANS

1869. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has approved the grant of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) facilities to World War-II Veterans, Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs), Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) and pre-mature retirees;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether over 43,000 individuals are not covered so far under ECHS and if so, the details thereof along with reasons therefor; and
- (d)    the  details  of  skill  development  training  and  other  welfare  measures  for  World War-II Veterans, Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs), Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) and pre-mature retirees is being carried out by the PSUs of the Government during the last five years, if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

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- (a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Sir.  Membership  of  ECHS  has  been  granted  to  World  War  II Veterans, Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs), Short Service Commissioned  Officers  (SSCOs)  and  pre-mature  retirees  by  waiving  off  the condition  relating  to  receipt  of  pension  and  being  Ex-servicemen  (ESMs)  for becoming  eligible  to  receive  medicare  under  ECHS,  subject  to  the  following conditions:
- (i) They must apply for membership of ECHS and accept the Rules of ECHS.
- (ii) ECHS  facilities  would  be  extended  only  to  the  individuals  of  the  abovementioned categories and their spouses.

(iii) They  will  have  to  pay  one-time  contribution  and  become  members  of  the ECHS. (However,  war  widows  shall  be  exempt  from  payment  of  one-time  ECHS contribution).

(iv) They should not have been discharged on disciplinary grounds.

(v) They should not be covered under any other institutional health scheme of the Government.

(vi) They should abide by the ECHS Rules as amended from time to time.

(vii) The WW-II Veterans and ECOs and their spouses would be allowed all ECHS facilities including treatment in ECHS empanelled hospitals, and free OPD and IPD treatment facilities at the AFMS Hospitals, as available to other ECHS members.

(viii) The  SSCOs  and  pre-mature  retirees  would  be  eligible  for  the  following facilities

- (a) Free OPD services from ECHS Polyclinics
- (b) They  must  pay  for  OPD/IPD/  Investigations  in  ECHS  empanelled  hospitals and seek reimbursement @ 75% of total admissible expenditure for personnel having  more  than  10 years  of  service  and  @50%  of  total  admissible expenditure for personnel having less than or equal to 10 years of service.

This decision of the Government is expected to benefit approximately 43,000 individuals (1000 WW-II Veterans & their spouses, 2000 ECOs & their spouses  and 40000 SSCOs & pre-mature retirees including their spouses).

(d) Measures for resettlement and training including reservation in Govt./Bank/PSUs etc., are aimed at those who qualify to be ESM and are desirous of availing benefits under  the  various  resettlement  and  training  Schemes  for  gainful  re-employment/a second  career.  Details  of  skill  development  training  for  WW-II  Veterans,  ECOs, SSCOs  and  pre-mature  retirees  being  carried  out  by  the  PSUs  is  not  maintained centrally by the Department of Public Enterprises, the nodal department for PSUs. As regards  Defence  PSUs,  ESMs  recruited  by  various  Defence  PSUs  are  extended  all welfare  measures  such  as  training,  skill  development,  etc.,  as  per  extant  company rules.  Directorate  General  of  Resettlement  (DGR)  conducts  resettlement  training course  for  retiring/retired  officers  of  the  Indian  Army,  Navy  and  Air  Force  at Government / Private Training Institutes. Certifications from these training institutes increase  their  chances  of  getting  employed  at  senior  management  posts  in  the corporate sector. In the last five years i.e. from 2014-15 to 2018-19, 558 pre-mature retiree officers and  451  SSC  officers  have  attended  the skill  development  / resettlement training courses conducted by DGR.