The ex-servicemen (ESM) of India are the heroes of the nation. They have served in the armed forces with dedication and valour, and have retired or been discharged from their service. They deserve respect and recognition for their contribution to the nation’s security and integrity. However, some of them face tragic circumstances in their post-service life, such as the demise of both the ESM and their spouse, leaving their young offspring orphaned and financially vulnerable.
These orphans, especially those of non-pensioner ESM up to the rank of Havildar or equivalent in the Navy/Air Force, face neglect and financial hardship. To address this, the government of India has introduced a scheme under the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF), which provides financial assistance for the orphaned children of non-pensioner ESM.
BACKGROUND
This scheme started in May 2007 with Rs 500 per month for orphaned girls. It changed in Oct 2011 to Rs 1,000 per month for all orphaned children. It changed again in April 2022 to Rs 3,000 per month, paid yearly, for all eligible orphans. The scheme is for the children of ESM up to the rank of Havildar and equivalent. The money goes to the bank account of the orphan or their guardian. The scheme is for orphans below 21 years of age for sons or unmarried daughters. The scheme is funded by the AFFD Fund, which comes from the donations of the people and the companies on Dec 7 every year.
ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
The eligibility conditions for availing the financial assistance under this scheme are as follows:
- The applicant must be a legitimate offspring of an ESM, and the ESM should be of the rank of Havildar/equivalent from the Navy/AF and below.
- The applicant must be below 21 years of age for sons or unmarried for daughters and must have lost both parents.
- The applicant must be recommended by the respective Zila Sainik Board (ZSB), which is the nodal agency for the welfare of ESM and their families at the district level.
APPLICATION
The application for financial assistance under this scheme must be submitted through the respective ZSB. The application must be accompanied by the following documents, scanned and uploaded on the portal:
- Service document/discharge book of ESM, showing the rank, service number, name and date of birth of the ESM and the orphan.
- Death certificates of both parents, issued by a competent authority, such as a municipal corporation, panchayat, etc.
- Identity card of the orphan, issued by the ZSB.
- Birth certificate of the orphan, issued by a competent authority, such as a municipal corporation, panchayat, etc.
- A certificate from the ZSWO, confirming the unmarried status of the orphan girl, if applicable.
- Bank passbook and a cancelled cheque, showing the bank account number, IFSC code and personal details of the orphan or his/her legal/natural guardian.
CHANNEL OF APPLICATION FOR ESM
The application must be submitted through the respective Zila Sainik Board by the orphan or his/her legal/natural guardian. The Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO) will verify and recommend the application, and forward it to the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) for further recommendation. The RSB will then forward the application to the KSB for final approval and sanction.
PROCESSING AT KSB SECRETARIAT
The applications received from the RSBs will be filed in batches, and the data from the applications will be entered into the computer. The entries will be verified, and the printed list will be presented for approval. The applications will be moved for sanction in one lot, preferably quarterly.
PAYMENT PROCEDURE
The approved applications will be processed for payment in batches of 200. The Welfare Section of the KSB will forward the batch list to the Accounts Section for direct payment via ECS or account payee cheque. The payment will be made annually, in advance, for the next financial year.
SUBSEQUENT GRANT
The financial assistance under this scheme, once approved, is for the entire eligibility duration. No fresh application is required. However, a certificate from the ZSWO, confirming the unmarried status of the orphan girl, if applicable, must be submitted online every year. The financial assistance is non-transferable and ceases automatically upon the death of the orphan or his/her marriage.
CONCLUSION
The scheme of RMEWF-Financial Assistance for Orphaned Children of Non-Pensioner ESM is a support scheme for the offspring of the veterans who have served the nation with honour and devotion. The scheme provides a financial grant to the orphaned children of non-pensioner ESM up to the rank of Havildar and equivalent, who have lost both parents and have no source of income. The scheme is funded by the AFFD Fund, which is a symbol of the solidarity and support of the citizens and the corporate sector for the armed forces. The scheme is a tribute to the ESM and their children, who are the pride of the nation.
The Pride & Privilege of Being an Ex-Serviceman in India
