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Resettlement & Welfare Schemes |
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Introduction
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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 for 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 I and 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 retirement, majority of service personnel are at an age where they 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. |
Facilities and Schemes
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RESETTLEMENT Resettlement: The primary thrust of the Directorate General of Resettlement, Kendriya Sainik Board, Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila sainik Boards is on dignified resettlement and efforts are made to explore various avenues for employment of ex-servicemen. To resettle/re-employ ex-servicemen, the Central Government arranges the following:- (a) Training programmes to reorient retiring Defence personnel towards civil employment. (b) Reservation of posts for providing employment opportunities in government/semi government/ public sector organizations and assistance in employment with corporate sector. (c) Schemes for self-employment and (d) Assistance in entrepreneurship and setting up small scale industries
TRAINING PROGRAMMES Training Programmes: Training for preparing both ex-servicemen and retiring service personnel for their resettlement in civil life is one of the major functions entrusted to the Directorate General of Resettlement. This year the Directorate General of Resettlement has introduced some new courses which will provide nationally / internationally accepted certification to facilitate retired persons to get quick employment within / outside the country. The programme includes courses on information technology, managerial science, technical skills and agro based industries. Constant endeavour is made to improve the quality of training by regular monitoring. The courses are reviewed every year to include courses in new fields based on the participation in current requirements of civil market and corporate world and also to delete obsolete courses. Officers’ Training : The Directorate General of Resettlement organises employment oriented training programmes for officers to enhance their qualifications and enable them to seek suitable employment after retirement. The Resettlement Training Programmes range from vocational courses of three months’ duration to degree /diploma courses, via distant learning programme of one to three years duration. The courses are conducted in multifarious fields like Information Technology, Security Services, Entrepreneurship Development, Business Administration, Personnel Management, Hotel Management, Tourism, Human Resources Development, Law, Insurance and miscellaneous topics. Recently, management courses of six months duration have been introduced at Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. These courses have received an overwhelming response from officers and resulted in good job placements in the coporate sector. In order to meet the aspirations of retiring officers many more reputed institutes, including IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore, have been empanelled to run additional courses. Computer diploma and Engineering courses of six months have also been introduced in various institutions across the country. Besides this, especially designed two week programmes in Second Career Transition have also been introduced for officers looking to build successful new careers in the corporate/self entrepreneurial sectors. JCOs / ORs Equivalent Training : Resettlement Training Programmes for Junior Commissioned Officers / Other Ranks and their equivalent from the other services are carried out under head Vocational Training. The training courses are conducted in diversified fields for a duration of upto one year in government, semi-government and private institutes spread all over the country. The salient fields covered are Security Services, Management, Information Technology, Travel & Tourism including Adventure Tourism, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management, technical (including medical) trades, non-technical trades, secretarial support services, agro based industry and many other miscellaneous trades. This year courses offered by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) under the City and Guilds banner, with internationally accepted certification, have been introduced for Personnel Below Officers Rank (PBOR) to improve their employment avenues. Three day capsules on Second Career Transition/Preparation have also been introduced for retiring PBOR in order to arm them with sufficient information for a smooth transition to a second career in the civil market. The courses are conducted free of cost to the PBOR and the course fee is paid directly to the institutes through the DGR budget allotted by MOD. The course duration is treated as Temporary Duty and PBOR are permitted to avail Free Railway Warrant for the journey to and fro. Details of courses are published each year through a brochure distributed down to each unit and Zila Sainik Board. Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Training : Under this scheme, funds are allotted to RSBs for conducting vocational training for ESM in their States. The scheme is primarily meant for those ESM who could not avail the facility of resettlement training while in service. The scheme has also been extended to the widow / one dependent of an ESM, irrespective of whether his death is attributable to military service or not. The fields/trades in which training is being conducted and the course fees is approved by MOD. The course is free of cost for the ESM and a stipend of Rs. 700/- per month is paid to each trainee. The details of personnel imparted training in various fields during the last five years are as under :
* Figures upto January, 2006
The Central and state governments provide a number of concessions to ex-servicemen for their re-employment in Central/state government posts. These include reservation of posts/relaxation in age and educational qualifications, exemption from payment of application/examination fees, and priority in employment to the disabled ESM and dependants of deceased service personnel on compassionate grounds. Reservation in Government Jobs : The Central Government has reserved 10% of Group ‘C’ posts and 20% of Group ‘D’ posts for ESM, while central PSUs and nationalised banks provide 14.5% reservation in Group ‘C’ and 24.5% in Group ‘D’ posts. 10% posts of Assistant Commandants in paramilitary forces are also reserved for ESM. In Security Corps, 100% vacancies are reserved for ESM. In addition, most of the State Governments were providing reservations to ESM in state government jobs. Security Agencies : The DGR registers/sponsors private ex-servicemen security agencies for providing security guards to various PSUs and industries in the private sector. The scheme offers good self-employment opportunities to retired officers and adequate employment opportunity to ex-PBORs in a field where they have sufficient expertise. Besides, some states have set up ESM corporations. They are also providing security services. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) had issued instructions to all PSUs to get security personnel through state ex-servicemen corporations located in the concerned state or DGR sponsored Security Agencies. The scheme has shown good results. Through this scheme about 1800 ESM security agencies have been empanelled and approximately over 1,10,000 ESM have gained employment as on date. Fresh forays have been made into the banking sector with active intercession of the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry. The RBI has issued instructions that the security of the treasury chests of all Banks in the country be entrusted to DGR sponsored ESM Security Agencies only, in the absence of the Banks own integral security. Placement of JCOs/ORs : The details of ex-servicemen, who have been provided employment through Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) and Zila Sainik Welfare Offices in the States during the last five years is as follows:
* Figures upto June 2005 ** Figures upto December, 2005 Officer’s Employment : During the current calendar year, a total number of 514 officers have been registered with the DGR for employment assistance and 2810 officers have been sponsored for various employment opportunities . To spread awareness about potential in ex-defence personnel, a seminar was organised in conjunction with the Confederation of Indian Industries at Bangalore in October 2005 and another seminar was held at New Delhi on 4th January, 2006. The response to the seminars and subsequent employment has been satisfactory. SCHEMES FOR SELF EMPLOYMENT Introduction: As it is not feasible to provide government jobs to all ex-servicemen after their retirement from the Armed Forces, government has formulated several schemes for encouraging and giving financial support by way of loans to ex-servicemen entrepreneurs intending to set up small and medium industries. Major self-employment schemes are SEMFEX-II, SEMFEX-III and National Equity Fund Scheme. Applications for sanction of loans are submitted by ex-servicemen directly to concerned Zila Sainik Boards in the states who scrutinise the applications and recommend for sanction of loan through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Central Cooperative Banks, State Land Development Banks and Regional Rural Banks aided by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the State KVIB/Banks aided by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). SEMFEX-II Scheme. The scheme has been promoted with the assistance of NABARD to set up agriculture and allied activities, including State Road Transport Operators (SRTO), and also for setting up of village, cottage, tiny and small scale industries in rural areas. Agro/food processing units can be set up irrespective of location in rural and urban areas. There is no upper age limit for loan in respect of projects under farm sector including agro/food processing units. The financial assistance in case of non-farm sector activities is available up to SSI limit, for setting up industries in rural areas. This scheme is operative from the year 1988-89. Rs.124.87 crore loan has been sanctioned to 20455 ex-servicemen since inception and up to June 2005. SEMFEX-III Scheme. The scheme is operative in collaboration with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The maximum loan limit for individual entrepreneurs, cooperative societies/institutions and trusts is Rs. 25 lakh per project to establish industries in rural areas. This scheme is operative from the year 1992-93. Rs. 12.65 crore loan has been sanctioned to 1074 ex-servicemen since inception and up to June, 2005 National Equity Fund Scheme (NEF). The scheme has been launched in collaboration with SIDBI. Financial assistance is available to set up projects in tiny/small scale industrial sector, service enterprises and also for undertaking expansion, technology upgradation, modernisation and revival of viable sick units in SSI Sector. The maximum loan limit is Rs 50 lakh per project. This scheme is operative from the year 2000-01. Rs.2.30 crore loan has been sanctioned to 44 ex-servicemen since inception and up to June 2005. Allotment of Army Surplus Vehicles. Ex-Servicemen and widows of defence personnel, who died while in service, are eligible to apply for allotment of an Army surplus phased out Class V-B Vehicles. The application forms are routed through Zila/Rajya Sainik Boards in case of retired personnel, and through units for those in their last six months of service, to DGR for registration and onward submission to Army Headquarters for allotment on the basis of depot-wise seniority maintained by them. During the year 2005, 2519 applications were registered with DGR for allotment of army surplus vehicles. Coal Transportation Scheme. DGR sponsors Ex-Servicemen Coal Transport Companies for providing loading and transportation of coal in various coal subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL). The unemployed retired officers and JCOs registered with DGR, are selected to form ESM Coal Transport Companies and are sponsored to respective coal subsidiaries for five years, extendable by another four years. Presently, 94 such companies are operating under the various coal subsidiaries of CIL. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR. Coal Tipper Scheme. The widows of Defence personnel, who died while in service due to causes attributable to military service and disabled soldiers also can be sponsored by DGR for attaching one tipper truck in their name with an ESM Coal Transport Company. Eligible widow/disabled soldier is required to make a deposit of Rs.85,000/- with any of the nominated coal transport company. The company pays them Rs. 3000/- per month for a period of five years, after which the deposited amount of Rs.85,000/- is paid back to widow/disabled soldier. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR. At present 436 widows/disabled ex-servicemen are availing the benefit of this Scheme. Allotment of Oil Product Agencies. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reserved 8% of the Oil Product Agencies, i.e. LPG Dealership, Petrol Pumps, Kerosene Distributorship etc. for widows and dependants of those who died due to causes attributable to military service and disabled soldiers with disability of 20 percent and above attributable to military service. Eligible persons can apply as and when such a vacancy under ‘Defence Category’ is advertised in the newspapers. The DGR sponsors eligible candidates by issuing eligibility certificate to them. Interview is conducted by a Dealer Selection Board constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Final allotment is made by the concerned oil company to the selected candidates. During 2005, 472 eligibility certificates have been issued by DGR . Mother Dairy Milk and Fruit & Vegetables Shops. Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) / Other Ranks (OR) are allotted Mother Dairy Milk shops and fruit & vegetable shops in the National Capital Region. 686 milk shops and 282 fruit & vegetable shops are being operated by ex-servicemen. Dependant sons (where the Ex-Servicemen are not eligible) are also considered for allotment of fruit & vegetable shops in and around Delhi. Management of CNG Stations in National Capital Region (NCR). The scheme for management of CNG stations belonging to Indraprastha Gas Limited was launched as a pilot project in July 2001. On success of the pilot project, the scheme has been extended to retired officers. As on date, there are 60 retired officers managing 84 CNG station Three ex-lady officers have also been allotted CNG stations in Delhi. This scheme is presently available in Delhi only. Reservation in CSD. The Canteen Stores Department of India (CSDI) has reserved 15% of the 30 selected CSD items and the Ministry of Defence has reserved 10% of the 262 selected items manufactured by Ex-Servicemen Entrepreneurs under the Defence Purchase Programme for which Ex-Servicemen manufacturing units alone are eligible. New Initiatives and Thrust AreasPM Scholarship Scheme: To encourage higher technical and professional education for the wards of widows and ex-servicemen of the armed forces, it has been decided to introduce a new scholarship scheme to be known as “Prime Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme” from the academic year 2006-07. The scheme would provide a scholarship of Rs. 1250/- p.m. for boys and Rs.1500/- p.m. for girls for the recognised professional and technical courses for a duration ranging from 2 to 5 years. A total number of 5000 scholarships would be available to be funded from National Defence Fund, out of which 4000 scholarships will be for wards of widows/ex-servicemen from armed forces and the remaining 1000 will be available to the wards of central para-military forces being managed by Ministry of Home Affairs and Railway Protection Force (Ministry of Railways). Self Employment Schemes: Intensive interaction with state governments was undertaken to set up pilot projects or suitable schemes in the areas having concentration of ex-servicemen in various sectors, based on local resources and skills, such as food processing, dairy, weaving, etc. Other central government ministries/departments such as Banking, Animal Husbandry, Health, Food Processing and institutions such as banks KVIC, NBARD were invited for discussions. Computerisation: A scheme for cmputerisation of data base to be implemented by DGR was approved at a cost of Rs. 86 lakhs. PUBLICITY Wide publicity of policies and various schemes sponsored by DGR is of paramount importance so as to reach each unit and ex-servicemen/widows across the length and breadth of the country through exhibitions/seminars and ex-servicemen rallies. This is done by the DGR by means of publication of its periodical magazine “PUNARVAS”, brochures, leaflets, articles in Sainik Samachar and Baatcheet. The electronic media is also used for the above purpose. The DGR had put up a stall at the Aero-India 2005 at Bangalore to spread awareness about schemes concerning ex-servicemen. Various other forums provided by Command HQs, RSBs and Sainik Sammelans are also utilised for publicity purpose. A film on Armed Forces Flag Day was telecast on the National Channel of Doordarshan on December 7th 2005. A live telecast interview of DGR was telecast on Doordarshan on December 6th 2005, The activities of DGR and KSB have also been publicised through CD –ROMs forwarded down to Zila Sainik Boards and Units. Space of 18 sqm has been obtained free of cost for putting up a stall at forthcoming DEFEXPO 2006 at Pragati Maidan. DGR also participated in India Industrial Trade Fair held at Kolkata from 21st December, 2005 to 31st December, 2005 on the theme of “Access to excellence in Human Resources” which has achieved the objectives for which it was put up. WELFARE Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB). The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri, is the nodal agency to look after the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families in liaison with Rajya Sainik Boards/Zila Sainik Boards. The KSB also administers various welfare activities through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, which are financed from interest earnings of the fund. The fund has a corpus of Rs 125.22 crores. Financial assistance is provided to institutions, such as, paraplegic homes at Kirkee and Mohali, the Red Cross Society, Cheshire Homes, Military Hospitals, St. Dustan’s After Care Organisation and Homes for taking care of old and physically handicapped ex-servicemen and their dependents. Financial assistance is also provided to individual ex-servicemen and their families who are in a state of penury to meet their specific needs. DGR also funds the running of War Widows Hostels, scholarships to ex-servicemen’s orphans and other such philanthropic activities. The following is the amount of the Financial Assistance/Welfare Measures afforded to above institutions out of the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund upto 31 Dec 05. (a) PRC Kirkee Rs. 9,23,779/- (b) PRC Mohali Rs. 5,96,105/- (c) Cheshire Homes Rs. 85,250/- (d) Military Hospitals (Vocational Trg Centre) Rs. 1,21,256/- (e) St. Dunstan’s After Care Rs.10,00,000/- (f) All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Welfare Rs. 5,00,000/- Association, Dehradun (g) Serious Diseases (No. of beneficiaries 77) Rs. 56,76,541/ Assistance from Raksha Mantri’s Fund: A portion of the earnings of Armed Forces Flag Day Fund is set apart as Raksha Mantri’s Discretionary Fund which is used to provide financial assistance to poor and needy ex-servicemen for various purposes, viz, medical treatment, daughter’s marriage, house repair and education of children. Monthly financial assistance, up to a period of two years, is provided to old and infirm ex-servicemen and widows of ex-servicemen living in penury. An amount of Rs. 84,34,150/- as Financial Assistance out of Raksha Mantri’s Discretionary Fund covering 752 cases of above nature has been provided upto 31 Dec. 05. Concessions and Facilities: Under-mentioned concessions and facilities are available to eligible personnel :- (a) Free educational facilities to Children of Defence personnel killed or disabled in action in schools/colleges recognized by the Central or State Governments. (b) 27 seats in the MBBs, one seat in BDS and one seat in engineering stream are available through KSB to dependants/ wards of certain categories of defence personnel through Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (c) 25% seats are reserved for the wards of serving and ex-servicemen personnel in Sainik Schools. (d) States/UTs have made reservation of seats in professional colleges/ITIs/ Polytechnics for wards of serving and retired defence personnel. (e) Two educational grants viz (i) Rs 600/- per month are provided to the wards of war bereaved and (ii) Rs 300/- to the wards of disabled (attributable/non-attributable) and peace time casualties, housed in 35 War Memorial Hostels to enable them to pursue their studies. So far upto the period 31 Oct 05 an amount of Rs. 20,09,867/- covering 207 cases and Rs. 2,10,097/- covering 51 cases as Educational Grants has been provided by the KSB. (f) Medical Facilities to Ex-Servicemen. Until now ex-servicemen and the families of deceased service personnel drawing pension of any kind were entitled to free out-patient treatment and in-patient treatment (subject to availability of beds) in military hospitals. With the introduction of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) from 1st April, 2003, the ex-servicemen pensioners are eligible to get free medical facilities on becoming member of ECHS after contributing certain amount. The scheme is optional for ex-servicemen who retired before 31st March, 2003 and compulsory for service pensioners retiring after 1st April, 2003. The scheme, to be completed in 5 years, envisages setting up of 227 polyclinics in 104 military and 123 non-military stations. Besides, there is a provision for empanelling reputed hospitals and diagnostic centres where patients can be referred by polyclinics. 183 polyclinics have been set up till December 2005. Besides, 462 reputed hospitals and diagnostic centres have so far been empanelled. War widows and disable veterans have been exempted from contribution for membership. Non-pensioner ex-servicemen/dependents, however, will continue to get financial assistance from Armed Forces Flag Day Fund for treatment of specified serious diseases. The World War Veterans will continue to get authorised medical treatment from Armed Forces Medical Services. (g) Travel Concessions. The following concessions are available to War Widows/Gallantry Award Winners, which can be availed on production of identity card issued by KSB:- (i) Rail Travel Concession (aa) 75% concession in rail fare for travel in II class is available to widows of personnel killed in war and action against terrorist and extremists. (ab) Free Rail travel is available in I Class/AC 2 tier to the recipients of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra along with companion. (ac) Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra awardees are also allowed for free Rail travel in AC II tier/AC III tier of Rajdhani and Chair Car of Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi Express trains along with a companion in the same class. (ii) Air Travel Concession (aa) 75% concession is allowed to recipients of Gallantry Awards of Level I and Level II viz. Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Kirti Chakra, Victoria Cross, George Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and George Medal. (ab) 75% concession is available to permanently war disabled officers who have been invalidated of service and the dependent members of their families. (ac) 75% concession to war widows of Post-Independence era. (h) Reservation of House Sites/Houses. Several states have made reservations for serving/retired Armed Forces personnel in allotment of house sites/houses. (i) Sainik Rest House Facilities. Over 252 Sainik Rest Houses have been built in the country, which provide transit facilities to Ex-Servicemen and their dependants at nominal rates. So far an amount of Rs. 28,02,000/- has been provided to state of Tripura for construction of Sainik Rest House at Agartala during the month of Aug 05 out of AFFD Fund. (j) Cash Award/Annuity/Cash, in lieu of Land for Gallantry/Non Gallantry Award Winners. The States/UTs provide Cash Award/Annuity/Cash in lieu of land for Gallantry/Non gallantry Award winners.
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