DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
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Key Highlights
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare is dedicated to providing
comprehensive support for veterans and their families, encompassing
healthcare, financial benefits, and career transition assistance.
Initiatives like the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme
(ECHS) and the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme have
significantly improved the well-being and financial security of
veterans.
The Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) and the Kendriya
Sainik Board (KSB) play crucial roles in empowering ex-servicemen
with skills and opportunities for their second careers, and providing
support to their
families.
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Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was launched with effect from
1st April 2003. The Scheme aims to provide Medicare to Ex-servicemen pensioner
and their dependents through a network of ECHS Polyclinics, Service medical
facilities, Government hospitals, empanelled private hospitals/specified Govt. The
Scheme has been structured on the lines of CGHS to ensure cashless transactions,
for the patients.
Rise in Beneficiaries from 3.5Lakhs in
2004 to 59 Lakhs in 2024
Increase in Annual Budget from Rs.
93 Cr in FY 2004-05 to Rs. 9881 Cr
in 2023-24
Total Empanelled Hospitals - 2697
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ECHS BENEFICIARIES : STATEWISE
Sl. Sl
State/UT Primary Dependents State/UT Primary Dependents
No No.
Andaman and 21 Maharashtra 1,35,625 3,03,297
1 813 2,279
Nicobar Islands
22 Manipur 4,330 12,467
2 Andhra Pradesh 49,967 1,37,642
23 Meghalaya 2,259 4,789
3 Arunachal Pradesh 1,025 2,475
24 Mizoram 2,161 5,751
4 Assam 24,279 54,335 25 Nagaland 1,794 4,971
5 Bihar 61,878 1,57,108 26 Odisha 32,485 78,080
6 Chandigarh 6,846 9,652 27 Puducherry 1,467 2,673
7 Chhattisgarh 5,893 18,397 28 Punjab 2,10,524 3,82,057
8 D&N, D&D 61 136
29 Rajasthan 1,21,687 2,79,239
9 Delhi 42,301 84,088
30 Sikkim 1,209 2,248
10 Goa 2229 4,751
31 Tamil Nadu 1,02,624 1,89,986
11 Gujarat 21,706 60,380
32 Telangana 28,882 58,713
12 Haryana 1,85,615 3,08,982
33 Tripura 1,300 3,283
13 Himachal Pradesh 1,05,062 1,73,959
34 Uttar Pradesh 2,32,508 5,10,962
Jammu and
14 68,049 1,72,732 35 Uttarakhand 1,08,017 2,09,413
Kashmir
15 Jharkhand 15,576 41,402 36 West Bengal 68,694 1,69,120
16 Karnataka 71,729 1,58,225 Total 18,06,096 39,47,403
17 Kerala 1,29,389 2,26,611
18 Ladakh 1,858 4,676 ECHS BENEFICIARIES IN NEPAL
19 Lakshadweep 66 191
Sl. No Country Primary Dependents
20 Madhya Pradesh 46,188 1,12,333 1 Nepal 46,592 58,578
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RECENT INITIATIVES OF ECHS
ECHS has taken a number of initiatives to increase its coverage and improve the quality
of services in its polyclinics and network hospitals like
Dring last one year, reputed Governemnt Iinstitutions like AIIMS Bhopal, Raipur,
Hyderabad, Allahabad and Gorakhpur empanelled
Enhanced Common Drug List (E-CDL) having 2500 medicines promulgated
Tele Medicine E-SeHAT & Home Delivery of Medicines sanctioned for
implementation
Upgraded ECHS Mobile App launched - Facilitates in booking online appointment
as also seek scheme related info
Vigilance on Emergency Admissions - Geo Tagging of Photo
Numerous workflow changes to improve beneficiary experience:-
(i) Change of Polyclinic, Mobile No & Referral from Non-parent Polyclinic
(ii) Validity of referral incr from 30 to 90 Days
(iii) No of sessions/ referral incr from three to six
(iv) Direct OPD at Empanelled Hosp - Age reduced from 75 to 70
(v) Exemption of Annual Validation for 80 yrs and above & for white card holders
(vi) Exemption of Annual Validation for white card holders
(vii) Executive Dashboard for real time visibility
MD ECHS Visit to an empanelled ECHS hospital in Ahmedabad
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ECHS BENEFICIARIES : CATEGORIES AND GROWTH
To be eligible for ECHS membership, one must meet following twin conditions of ESM
status and should be drawing normal service/ disability/ family pension from CDA.
Scheme also extended to Premature Retirees, Assam Rifles, WW-II veterans and
[Link] following table and chart shows the categories of ECHS beneficiaries and its
growth over these years.
BENEFICIARY CATEGORIES
Children Primary Beneficiary
24.3% 32.5%
Parents
12.1%
Spouse
31%
NO OF ECHS BENEFICIARIES SINCE INCEPTION
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ECHS EXPANSION
To improve healthcare services for ex-servicemen, the ECHS has received government
sanction in 2024 to establish 23 new polyclinics, upgrade 50 existing ones, and add
1,357 contractual personnel. These enhancements aim to reduce wait times, increase
access to specialists, and provide more comprehensive care.
ECHS Manpower enhanced
ECHS POLYCLINIC TYPE AND CATEGORIES
Polyclinics are categorized as either Military or Non-Military, depending on whether a
Military hospital is co-located or not and are further categorized into five types, i.e.
Type A to E, based on the number of Ex-servicemen residing in that area.
Type A >20,000 ESM
Type B >10,000 ESM
Type C >5,000 ESM
Type D >2,500 ESM
Type E (Mobile ) Above 1500 (for Remote Areas)
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ECHS EXPANSION: CREATION OF NEW POLYCLINICS
The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is expanding its reach to
provide better healthcare access for veterans and their families, with new facilities and
services.
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ECHS EXPANSION: UPGRADATION OF POLYCLINICS
During the year 2024, sanction for upgradation of the following 50 ECHS polyclinics have
been given. This will entail more number of doctors and other medical facilities to the
ECHS beneficiaries.
Ser Present Upgraded Present Upgraded
Polyclinic State/UT Ser No. Polyclinic State/UT
No. Type Type Type Type
1 Vishakapatnam Andhra Pradesh C A 27 Bhubaneshwar Odisha C B
2 Danapur (Patna) Bihar C A 28 Patiala Punjab B A
3 Chandigarh Chandigarh B A 29 Mohali Punjab C A
4 Chandimandir Chandigarh C A 30 Pathankot Punjab D A
5 Gurgaon(Sohna Road) Haryana B A 31 Unchibassi Punjab C B
6 Rewari Haryana B A 32 Tarantaran / Patti Punjab D B
7 Ambala Haryana C A
33 Batala Punjab D C
8 Rohtak Haryana D A
34 Jaipur Rajasthan B A
9 Faridabad Haryana C B
35 Jodhpur Rajasthan B A
10 Charkhi Dadri Haryana D B
36 Ajmer Rajasthan D C
11 Palwal Haryana D C
37 Secunderabad Telangana B A
12 Palampur Himachal Pradesh D A
38 Meerut Uttar Pradesh B A
13 Samba J&K C B
39 Lucknow Uttar Pradesh C A
14 Akhnoor J&K D C
40 Kanpur Uttar Pradesh C A
15 Belgaum Karnataka B A
41 Agra Uttar Pradesh C A
16 Mavelikara Kerala D A
42 Bareilly Uttar Pradesh C A
17 Kozhikode Kerala C B
Ghaziabad
18 Kottarakara Kerala D C 43 Uttar Pradesh D A
(Hindon)
19 Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh D B
Prayagraj
44 Uttar Pradesh D A
20 Gwalior Madhya Pradesh D B (Allahabad)
21 Bhopal Madhya Pradesh D C 45 Mathura Uttar Pradesh D A
22 Pune Maharashtra B A 46 Gorakhpur Uttar Pradesh D B
23 Khadki (Pune) Maharashtra D A 47 Varanasi Uttar Pradesh D B
24 Ahmednagar Maharashtra C B 48 Haldwani Uttarakhand B A
25 South Pune (Lohegaon) Maharashtra D C 49 Roorkee Uttarakhand D A
26 Devlali Maharashtra D C 50 Barrackpore West Bengal C A
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SAMADHAN CAMPAIGN : REACHING OUT TO EX-SERVICEMEN
The ‘Samadhan Campaign’ is an initiative by the Department to honor the sacrifices made
by ex-servicemen and their families, by proactively engaging with them and addressing
their grievances related to the department’s various welfare schemes.
Seeking feedback and insights into the challenges veterans come across while availing
various welfare schemes of the Department, Dr. Niten Chandra directed Rajya & Zila Sainik
Boards, ECHS and other agencies under the department to set-up proactive
communication and collaboration mechanism in finding solutions to the problems of ex-
servicemen. He reiterated the government’s unwavering support for the veteran
community.
Interaction with Ex-Servicemen in Ghamar , Ghazipur, UP
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL RESETTLEMENT
The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) is an Inter Service organization functioning
directly under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence). In order to
maintain a youthful profile of the Armed Forces, approximately 60,000 service personnel
are retired/released every year at comparatively young age.
DGR SCHEMES FOR ESM
DGR COURSES
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL RESETTLEMENT
DGR conducts number of training courses for the retiring/retired service personnel
through recognised and reputed Government Institutions. Besides these, it also conducts
Job Fairs for the ESMs for placement in the corporate /private sector.
Training Courses during last 5 years
DGR presenting momento to Hon’ble RRM during Job
fair at Ranchi.
Job fairs onducted during last 2 years
Financial Job ESM Job
Corporate
Year Fairs Attendance Vacancies
2022-23 6 9004 176 5689
2023-24 8 12198 258 8724
Common Service Centre (CSC) stall at Job fair, Kolkata
on 29 Nov 2024.
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ONE
RANK
ONE
PENSION
SCHEME
(OROP)
The OROP scheme, implemented in 2015, has significantly improved the financial
well-being of veterans. Over 2.5 million pensioners have benefited, with a total
financial benefit exceeding ₹ 1,24,000 crore over the last decade. The scheme
provides veterans with greater financial security and stability.
Government of India had taken historic decision to implement One Rank One Pension
(OROP) in November 2015 and issued orders on 7.11.2015 for implementation of
OROP wef 1.07.2014 and its revision w.e.f. 01.07.2019 on 04.01.2023.
Government also approved the next revision due on 01.07.2024. Detailed instructions
along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category issued
on 04.09.2024.
As on date 25.13 lakh Armed Forces Pensioners/family pensioners have been
benefited. The benefit also extended to family pensioners, including war widows and
disabled pensioners.
So far Rs 1,24,974.34 crore has been additionally spent on this scheme in the last 10
years (2014-2024). OROP has increased the income of the veterans which has
enhanced their purchasing power and ensured better quality of life.
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KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD : KSB
Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat is an attached office of Department of Ex-Servicemen
Welfare (DESW), Ministry of Defence which coordinates with various Rajya Sainik Boards
and Zila Sainik Boards. It also manages the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund and Prime
Minister’s Scholarship Scheme(PMSS)
KSB Website ( [Link] )
· Information on welfare schemes
· Online submission and processing of applications
of all Schemes
· Facilitate online registration of ESM/ widows with
RSB/ZSB
· Grievance Redressal
RSB/ZSB CHARTER
· RSB/ZSB function through Dept of Sainik Welfare
of State/UT
- Headed by Director/ZSWO at State/district level
- Staff includes Dy Directors, Asst Secy, Supdts,
Welfare Organisers, etc depending of strength of
ESM in district
· Register and Issue ESM and dependent I-Cards
· Conduct ESM rallies/ outreach prog
· Monitor welfare and resettlement measures
· Provide grants to ESM from State Schemes
· Grievance redressal & assistance to ESM to resolve
issues with other orgns
· Assist families of serving Defence personnel
during their absence on duty
· Pursue issues wrt ESM/ dependents reservation in
State institutions/ jobs
· Explore avenues to provide educational and
vocational training
· Provide facilities such as Sainik Rest Houses
(SRH), hostels
· Organise Armed Forces Flag Day events at State/
district level
Secy KSB addressing Company Secretaries at the National Conference in Mumbai
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ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY FUND
1. Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) is commemorated on the 7th Dec every
year to honour and pay tribute to ESM those who have laid down their
lives and those who have been disabled.
2. AFFD Fund instituted in 1993 for financial support for welfare schemes
for
i. Individual ESM/widows and their dependents
ii. Assisting various Rehabilitation Institutions/ Organisations
3. Management Committee headed by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and
Executive Committee headed by Secy (ESW).
4. Source of funding for AFFDF
(i) Govt of India and Defence Services
(ii) Direct contributions from citizens and online through website
[Link]
(iii) CSR Support from various PSUs, PSEs, Industry and corporate world
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Contact : secyesw@[Link]
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Ministry of Defence
Government of India
[Link]
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