If you are an Ex-Serviceman or a family member of one, you might have heard of KSB, RSB, and ZSB. But do you know what they are and what they do for you? In this article, we will introduce you to these three welfare agencies that are dedicated to serving and supporting you and your family.
WHAT IS KSB, RSB, AND ZSB?
KSB, RSB, and ZSB are the acronyms for Kendriya Sainik Board, Rajya Sainik Board, and Zila Sainik Board respectively. These are the welfare agencies for Ex-Servicemen and their families in India. They are under the Ministry of Defence and work in coordination with each other to provide various benefits and services to ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY & STRUCTURE OF KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD?
The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) is the national-level welfare agency for Ex-Servicemen and their families in India. It is an attached office of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) under the Ministry of Defence. It is headed by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) as its President.
The Kendriya Sainik Board was established in 1919 as the Indian Soldiers’ Board to advise on matters affecting the interest of serving, discharged, and deceased Indian soldiers and their dependents. It was reconstituted in 1944 to include the Navy and the Air Force and renamed as the Indian Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen Board. After independence, it continued to function under the Ministry of Defence and was renamed as the Kendriya Sainik Board in 1975.
The Kendriya Sainik Board has 46 members, which include Chief Ministers/Lt Governors of various States/UTs, MPs, Service Chiefs, Government officials, and ex-servicemen. The KSB Secretariat is headed by a serving officer of the rank of Brigadier or equivalent from the Navy/Air Force as its Secretary.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES OF KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD?
The Kendriya Sainik Board is responsible for formulating and implementing policies and schemes for the resettlement and welfare of Ex-Servicemen, widows, and their dependents. It also provides guidance and direction to the Rajya Sainik Boards and the Zila Sainik Boards at the state and district level. It also provides financial assistance and grants to Ex-Servicemen, widows, and their dependents for various purposes, such as Education, Medical treatment, Marriage, House repair, Funeral, etc.
The Kendriya Sainik Board also organises and celebrates various events and functions related to the welfare and honour of Ex-Servicemen and their families, such as the Armed Forces Flag Day, Veterans Day, the Veer Nari Sammelan, etc. It also maintains records and data of Ex-Servicemen and their dependents and issues identity cards and certificates to them.
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WHAT IS THE HISTORY & STRUCTURE OF RAJYA SAINIK BOARD?
The Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) is the state-level welfare agency for Ex-Servicemen and their families in India. It is under the overall guidance and direction of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and is headed by the Chief Minister/Governor of the State/UT as its President.
The Rajya Sainik Board was established in 1975 along with the KSB and the Zila Sainik Boards to handle the welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families at the state and district level. The Rajya Sainik Board has 15 to 25 members, which include State Ministers, MLAs, Government officials, and ex-servicemen.
The Rajya Sainik Board is managed by the Department of Sainik Welfare (DSW), which is headed by the Secretary, who is invariably the Director of the Rajya Sainik Board. The DSW is the state-level department that deals with the resettlement and welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS & SERVICES OF RAJYA SAINIK BOARD?
The Rajya Sainik Board is responsible for implementing the policies and schemes of the KSB for the resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents in the state. It also provides financial assistance and grants to ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents for various purposes, such as education, medical treatment, marriage, house repair, funeral, etc.
The Departments of Sainik Welfare / Rajya Sainik Boards in the States / UTs are the state-level agencies for the welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families. They supervise the Zila Sainik Boards, help Ex-Servicemen and widows get jobs as per the reservation rules, provide them with various benefits and services, and promote the Armed Forces in the country.
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WHAT IS THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF ZILA SAINIK BOARD?
The Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) is the district-level welfare agency for Ex-Servicemen and their families in India. It is under the overall guidance and direction of the KSB and the RSB and is headed by the District Collector/Magistrate as its President.
The Zila Sainik Boards was established in 1975 along with the KSB and the Rajya Sainik Board to handle the welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families at the district level. The Zila Sainik Boards has 9 to 15 members, which include District Officers, Government officials, and ex-servicemen.
The Zila Sainik Boards is managed by the Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO), who is a retired officer of the rank of Colonel or equivalent from the Navy/Air Force. The ZSWO is the district-level officer who deals with the resettlement and welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS & SERVICES OF ZILA SAINIK BOARD?
The Zila Sainik Boards is responsible for implementing the policies and schemes of the Kendriya Sainik Board and the Rajya Sainik Board for the resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents in the district. It also provides financial assistance and grants to Ex-Servicemen, widows, and their dependents for various purposes, such as education, medical treatment, marriage, house repair, funeral, etc.
The Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) are the district-level agencies that provide various welfare services to the Ex-Servicemen and their families. They register and issue identity cards to them, and help them with their resettlement, medical, legal, pension, and canteen issues. They also inform them about the various welfare schemes and benefits offered by the government and other agencies and assist them in availing them. They also organize and participate in various welfare, patriotic, and social activities and programs for them, such as rallies, camps, events, flag hoisting, wreath laying, blood donation, tree plantation, etc.
They also coordinate with the local civil and military authorities, NGOs, and other agencies for their welfare, and represent their grievances and problems to the higher authorities, such as the RSBs, the KSB, the MoD, etc.
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CONCLUSION
KSB, RSB, and ZSB are the welfare agencies for Ex-Servicemen and their families in India. They work in coordination with each other to provide various benefits and services to ex-servicemen, widows, and their dependents. They also show respect and gratitude to Ex-Servicemen and their families for their service to the nation. They are the pillars of support and guidance for the Ex-Servicemen and their families. They are the guardians of the Ex-Servicemen’s welfare.