Assistance to Ex-Servicemen: Schemes for welfare, resettlement and rehabilitation – Lok Sabha QA

Assistance to Ex-Servicemen: Total number of Ex-Servicemen and Schemes for welfare, resettlement and rehabilitation of the Ex-servicemen – Lok Sabha QA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3333
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th August, 2022

ASSISTANCE TO EX-SERVICEMEN

3333. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a) the financial assistance provided by the Government for implementation of the schemes for Welfare and Rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen;

(b) the main activities of Kendriya Sainik Board and the manner in which the said Board is beneficial for ex-servicemen and their families; and

(c) the details of efforts made towards making the grievance redressal mechanism effective and speedy for redressal of grievances of ex-servicemen?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI AJAY BHATT) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a): Kendriya Sainik Board(KSB) and Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) are implementing agencies of schemes for welfare and rehabilitation of Ex-Servicemen respectively. The details of Financial assistance provided by the Government to Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) during last three years are as under:-

FY:	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
	(Actual expenditure)	(Actual expenditure)	(Budget Allotment)
KSB	Rs. 234 Cr	Rs. 420 Cr	Rs. 150 Cr
DGR	Rs. 6.58 Cr	Rs.6.7 Cr	Rs. 20 Cr

 

(b): KSB administers Armed Forces Flag Day Fund(AFFDF) and its related welfare schemes like RakshaMantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF). Besides guiding, monitoring, coordinating, providing budgetary support to various Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards across the country, the KSB also conducts meeting with the various States and stakeholders for improving the lives of Ex-servicemen. The Board is beneficial to the Ex- servicemen as it the nodal and apex body for welfare of Ex-servicemen throughout the country which is headed by Hon’ble RM.

(c): The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has extended the 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 manners. 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 on any websites from their home by clicking on the pgportal.gov.in.

Further, a dedicated portal (Raksha Pension ShikayatNivaran Portal) for redressal of pension grievances of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) has been launched on 14th January, 2022. A Toll-free number has also been made operational in order to facilitate the ESM pensioner for smooth redressal of their grievance.

Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS) has been establish and operational as an interactive Toll Free Phone Number manned by Call Centre Executives in KSB Sectt.

The names of all RSBs have been included on NIC portal and CPGRAMS portal for speedy disposal of RTI cases and disposal of online grievances received in PG Portal. Case in progress for inclusion of all service Record Offices in the list of addressee on NIC portal.

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Source: Lok Sabha

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

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3263
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05th August, 2022

WELFARE OF EX-SERVICEMEN

3263. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a) the total current number of Ex-servicemen in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) the details of schemes being implemented for the welfare, resettlement and rehabilitation of the Ex-servicemen in the country;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide additional benefits to the Ex-servicemen and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new scheme/programme for welfare of the Ex-servicemen; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI AJAY BHATT) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a): The number of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) in the country is placed at Annexure-A.

(b): Kendriya Sainik Board implements schemes for welfare and rehabilitation of Ex- Servicemen and their dependents across the country. The details are placed at Annexure- B.
Director General Resettlement (DGR) implements various resettlement schemes. The details are placed at Annexure-C.

(c): 1.The benefit amount of following schemes has been increased in last few years. The details are as follows:-

(i) Marriage grant increased from Rs 16000/- to Rs 50000/- per daughter w.e.f 01 April, 2016.

(ii) Penury grant increased from Rs 1000/- to Rs 4000/- pm wef 01 April, 2017.

(iii) 100 % Disabled Children grant increased from Rs 1000/- to Rs 3000/-pm w.e.f 01 August, 2021.

(iv) Mobility Equipment to disabled ESM increased from Rs 57000/- to Rs 1,00,000/-
w.e.f 01 April, 2022.

(v) Orphan Grant to the Children of Ex-servicemen increased from Rs 1000/- pm to Rs. 3000/-pm w.e.f 01 April, 2022.

2. Additional Rs 320 Crores was also allocated during FY 2021-22 to clear backlog cases of Penury, Marriage and Education grants.

(d): No, Sir.
(e): Not applicable

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STATE/UT: CENSUS DATA OF ESM AS ON 31 December, 2021

S. No.	State/UT	No. of ESM
1.	Andhra Pradesh	72706
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	623
3.	Assam	38761
4.	Bihar	114383
5.	Chhattisgarh	7202
6.	Goa	2487
7.	Gujarat	31573
8.	Haryana	164773
9.	Himachal Pradesh	123210
10.	Jharkhand	28070
11.	Karnataka	89727
12.	Kerala	179724
13.	Madhya Pradesh	54203
14.	Maharashtra	193503
15.	Manipur	7627
16.	Meghalaya	2843
17.	Mizoram	5955
18.	Nagaland	2940
19.	Odisha	43335
20.	Punjab	339367
21.	Rajasthan	201434
22.	Sikkim	1121
23.	Tamilnadu	127932
24.	Telangana	36721
25.	Tripura	2279
26.	Uttar Pradesh	391040
27.	Uttarakhand	135778
28.	West Bengal	95003
29.	Andaman & Nicobar (UT)	667
30.	Chandigarh (UT)	9991
31.	Dadra Nagar Haveli (UT)	0
32.	Delhi (UT)	61496
33.	Jammu and Kashmir (UT)	71702
34.	Lakshadweep (UT)	0
35.	Leh and Ladakh (UT)	5364
36.	Puducherry (UT)	1792
	Total (INDIA)	2645332

 

DETAILS OF VARIOUS WELFARE SCHEMES PROVIDED TO ESM /WIDOWS AND WAR WIDOWS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS BY KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD (KSB)

Sr. No.	Grants	Amount(in Rs)
(a)	Penury Grant (65 Yrs and above) (Non-Pensioners upto Hav Rank)	Rs 4,000/-pm(Life time) w.e.f 01 April, 2017
(b)	Education Grant (up to two children) (i) Boys/Girls up to Graduation (ii) Widows for PG (Pensioner/Non Pensioner upto Hav Rank) and up to two children	Rs 1,000/-pm
(c)	Disabled Children Grant (Pensioner/Non-pen upto JCO Rank)	Rs 3,000/-pm
(d)	Daughter’s Marriage Grant(up to 02 Daughters) (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)	Rs 50,000/- *
	Widow Re-Marriage Grant (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)* If married solemnly on or after 21 April, 2016.
(e)	Medical Treatment Grant(Non-pensioner upto Hav Rank)	Rs 30,000/- (Max)
(f)	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 (wef 01 April, 2022)
(g)	Vocational Trg Grant For Widows (Pensioner/Non-Pen upto Hav Rank)	Rs 20,000/- (One Time)

1. Benefits given from Armed Forces Flag Day Fund under RMEWF :-

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

(a)	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%/90% of total    expenditure for officers and PBOR respectively. Up to Rs 1.25 Lac (max)
(b)	Dialysis and Cancer treatment	75%/90% of total expenditure Officer and PBOR respectively Up to a max 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 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. Rs 1,00,000/- (Max)

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 :-

Sl. No.	Organisation	Quantum of Aid/Grant
(a)	Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centers (i)  Kirkee (ii)  Mohali	Establishment grant (per annum) (i) Rs 1.20 cr(wef Apr 16) Rs. 30,000/- per annum per inmate (ii) Rs 10,00,000/- (wef Apr 2015)
(b)	All   India   Gorkha   Ex-servicemen welfare association, Dehradun	Rs. 12,00,000/- per annum
(c)	Cheshire Homes(i)   Lucknow, Delhi & Dehradun	Rs 15,000/- per annum  per inmate
(d)	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 Govt of India Nominee. A total of 37 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.

Resettlement of ESM is sought to be achieved through the following 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) Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme

(ii) Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme for Widows and Disabled ESM

(iii) Security Agency Scheme

(iv) Scheme for providing Technical Services

(v) Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of Oil Product Agencies under 8% Quota Scheme

(vi) Management of Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) Outlets

(vii) Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk Booths and Fruit and Vegetable (Safal) Shops

(viii) Management of CNG station by ESM (Officers) in NCR

(ix) Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of regular LPG distributorship

(x) Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of Retail Outlet (Petrol & Diesel)

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Source: Lok Sabha