Lok Sabha Question No. 2041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Welfare and Rehabilitation Schemes for Ex-servicemen
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2041

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 nd  August, 2024

## WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SCHEMES FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

2041 SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of welfare and rehabilitation schemes rolled out for ex-servicemen along with the financial assistance provided to them;
- (b)  the  details  of  financial  assistance  provided  to  ex-servicemen  under  Raksha  Mantri's Discretionary Fund (RMDF) during the last three years along with the number of beneficiaries thereof, year-wise;
- (c) the details of major activities being undertaken by Kendriya Sainik Board along with the manner in which it is beneficial for ex-servicemen and their families; and
- (d)  the efforts  being  made by  the Government to make the complaint redressal mechanism effective and speedy for redressing complaints of ex-servicemen?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a):    The  details  of  welfare  and  rehabilitation  schemes,  financial  assistance  provided  to Ex-servicemen/widows and their dependents are at Annexure-I.
- (b):    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:-
- (c):  The details of main activities of Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and the manner in which it is beneficial for ESM and their families is at Annexure-II.

| Financial Year   | Total Amount Paid   |   Total Beneficiaries |
|------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
| 2021-22          | Rs. 395.69 Cr       |                182728 |
| 2022-23          | Rs. 248.17 Cr       |                 98615 |
| 2023-24          | Rs. 366.54 Cr       |                172133 |

(d):  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  14 th   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.

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## ANNEXURE-I  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2041 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024 REGARDING 'WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SCHEMES FOR EX-SERVICEMEN'.

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

| S.No.   | Grants                                                                                                                                                  | Amount(in Rs.)            |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
| (i)     | Penury Grant (65 Yrs and above) (Non-Pensioners up to Hav Rank)                                                                                         | Rs. 4,000/-pm (Life time) |
| (ii)    | Education Grant (up to two children) (i) Boys/Girls up to Graduation (ii) Widows for PG (Pensioner/Non Pensioner up to Hav Rank) and up to two children | Rs. 1,000/-pm             |
| (iii)   | Disabled Children Grant (Pensioner/Non-pen up to JCO Rank)                                                                                              | Rs. 3,000/-pm             |
| (iv)    | Daughter's Marriage Grant (up to 02 Daughters) (Pensioner/Non-Pen up to Hav Rank)                                                                       | Rs. 50,000/- *            |
| (iv)    | Widow Re-Marriage Grant (Pensioner/Non-Pen up to Hav Rank) * If married solemnly on or after 21 April 2016                                              | Rs. 50,000/- *            |
| (v)     | Medical Treatment Grant (Non-pensioner up to Hav Rank)                                                                                                  | Rs. 50,000/- (Max)        |
| (vi)    | Orphan Grant (Pensioner/Non-pen All Ranks)  Daughters of ex-servicemen till she is married.  One Son of ex-servicemen upto 21 years of age.           | Rs. 3,000/-PM             |
| (vii)   | Vocational Trg Grant for Widows (Pensioner/Non-Pen uptoHav Rank)                                                                                        | Rs. 50,000/- (One Time)   |

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

| (i)   | Serious Diseases as listed below: - Angioplasty, Angiography, CABG, Open Heart Surgery, Valve Replacement, Pacemaker Implant, Renal Implant, Prostate Surgery, Joint Replacement and Cerebral Stoke. Other Diseases: Where more than Rs. 1.00 Lac has been spent on treatment   | 75% and 90% of total expenditure to Officer and Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) respectively. Up to a maximum of Rs. 1.50 Lac one time.   |
|-------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (ii)  | Dialysis and Cancer treatment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 75% and 90% of total expenditure Officer and PBOR respectively. Up to a maximum of Rs. 75,000/- per FY only.                                  |

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:
4. (a)   Rs. 2500/- per month for boys.
5. (b)   Rs. 3000/- per month for girls.
6. Financial support to institutions involved in rehabilitation of ESM: -

| Sl. No.   | Organisation                                                 | Quantum of Aid/Grant                                                                                                                          |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (i)       | Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centres (i) Kirkee (ii) Mohali     | Establishment grant (per annum) (i) Rs. 1.20 crore w.e.f April, 2016 Rs. 30,000/-per Annum per inmate (ii)Rs. 10,00,000/- (w.e.f April, 2015) |
| (ii)      | All India Gorkha Ex-servicemen Welfare Association, Dehradun | Rs. 12,00,000/- per annum                                                                                                                     |
| (iii)     | Cheshire Homes (i) Lucknow, Delhi &Dehradun                  | Rs. 15,000/- per annum per inmate                                                                                                             |

| (iv)   | War Memorial Hostels: There are 36 WMHs which provide shelter to the children of War Widows/War disabled, attributable and non-attributable cases.   | Rs. 1350/- per month   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|

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 endeavor 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.
- i. Placement Assistance through on-line registration at DGR.
- ii. DGR Sponsored Security Agency Scheme
- iii. ESM Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme.
- iv. Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme.
- v. Tipper Attachment Scheme for Widows and Disabled Soldiers.
- vi. Management of IGL/ MNGL CNG Stations by ESM in NCR/Pune.
- vii. Management of Company Owned Company Operated Retail Outlets.
- viii. Issue of DGR  Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of LPG/Retail Outlet (Petrol/Diesel) Distributorship advertised by Oil Marketing Companies against 8% Reservation Quota.
- ix. Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk Booths and Fruit & Vegetable (Safal) Shops in NCR.
- x. DGR Technical Service Scheme.
- xi. 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.

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## ANNEXURE-II  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2041 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024 REGARDING 'WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SCHEMES FOR EX-SERVICEMEN'.

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.

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