‘After Me’ Folder for Indian Army Officers

‘After Me’ Folder for Indian Army Officers: Compendium to provide guidance on various policies and procedures with formats, forms etc

‘AFTER ME’ FOLDER

1. Introduction . With the advent of technology, automation of majority of financial transactions, availability of numerous financial instruments, establishment of advanced procedures for emolument disbursement for Defence & family pensioners, necessity of consolidated financial as well as pension related details at one place has been amply established. Such a compendium is primarily aimed at providing due guidance as well as necessary financial/personal documents to the NoK post the demise of serving and retired offr. The folder should contain info/formats applicable to serving as well as retired offrs.

2. The compendium should not only provide guidance on various policies and procedures, it should also provide formats, forms etc which are readily available to the NoK. The compendium should not only cater for defence related details; it should contain detail of personal finances also.

3. ‘After Me’ Folder for Indian Army Officers. The ‘After Me’ Folder for Indian Army Officers and veterans has been prepared with an aim of providing single point source for all procedures, actions, emoluments & documents required for guidance of the NoK post demise on an officer. The folder is prepared to firstly provide a framework in which an officer can collate all documents/info required by the NoK and secondly to serve as a fall back guide to the NoK post demise of the officer. Accurate & updated folder will greatly assist families in managing their lives after one’s passing. Offrs need to periodically update the docu. Most of the info/ formats are applicable for serving as well retired offrs, forms/formats specifically applicable to veterans are included in Part III of the folder. Offrs are advised to make all entries that are likely to be changed/ updated in future in pencil for ease of updation.

4. Layout. The booklet is laid out in three broad parts as follows :-

(a) Part I – Immediate actions on demise of an officer.
(b) Part II – Pensionary benefits and emoluments & actions.
(c) Part III – Personal financial documents & info.

5. Recommended Actions by Officers. An officer needs to ponder on the fact that, while he/she as an officer has catered for the wellbeing and happy life of one’s family in terms of various assets as well as finances, there is still a need to ask the following pertinent questions:-

(a) Does my family have adequate knowledge, confidence & know how to go through the traumatic times on my demise?
(b) Does my family know what all actions are required to be done on my demise?
(c) Does my family know whom to contact for what purpose on my demise?
(d) Does my family know what all are due to them after my demise?
(e) While I have adequate assets & finances, will my family get what is rightfully theirs after me?
(f) Does my family know where and how many assets I have created for them?
(g) Does my family know how to get what is entitled to them?

6. May be due to our culture, the aspect of actions & info required post demise on an officer are not discussed in the detail as they warrant. Even the educated and working spouses generally do not take any interest in financial matters. There is a need to info one’s spouse/NoK where/how to locate and to operate the documents while one is alive. Also, there is need to prepare a file containing all letters which are required to be sent by the widow/NoK to various authorities, with all columns completed less date and cause of death being left blank. Separate envelopes duly addressed should also be attached with each letter. This action will be of immense help to the NoK in time of grief”.

7. The booklet provides a structure for various actions as well as personal/ financial info. It is suggested that all officers personalise the booklet as applicable to them and keep a hard copy of the same. The booklet should be personalized based on serving/veteran status of the officer.

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