Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF),2023

Policy Update
Aditi Singh Kaushik

Background:

A comprehensive scheme (RMEWF) to provide financial assistance to non-pensioner Ex-Servicemen discharged from their duties due to organizational constraints, or at their own will, and traces its genesis to the year 1981. In 1981, financial assistance of Rs.100/- per month, for two years, was introduced for non-pensioner Ex-Servicemen (ESM), or their widows, upon attaining the age of 65 years. Since then, the amount provided has been revised in 2007 and 2011 from Rs. 5,000/- per month to Rs.1,000/- per month, respectively.

Since 2017, the present scheme provides financial assistance of Rs.4,000/- per month to ESM/ Widows in a state of penury. Ex-Servicemen up to the rank of Havildar and equivalent/their widows, who have attained 65 years of age and above, are entitled to the penury grant. This grant (RMEWF) receives funds from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, under the scheme Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF).

However, when it comes to the medical treatment under the RMEWF – Financial Assistance for the Medical Treatment of the Ex-Servicemen, the amount to be received usually depends upon the nature and gravity of the ailment incurred. A recent revision to the scheme made in 2023 highlights that Ex-Servicemen/Widows are now eligible to receive a penury grant of Rs. 50,000/- annually for medical treatment.

Functioning:

Conditions under the Scheme: A detailed application process is put in place for ESM/Widows to become the recipients of financial assistance provided under the scheme. The applicants in this regard are bound to fulfil the following criteria before applying:

Applicant must be a non-pensioner ESM
Should have attained the rank of a Havildar/ an equivalent rank, or below
Should be recommended by their respective Zila Sainik Board (ZSB)
Expenditure for medical treatment must be incurred at recognized government hospitals, at rates approved under the Central Government Health Scheme and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.

Comprehensive Application Process: Upon qualifying the set conditions, an applicant is required to go through the following steps to become a recipient of financial assistance provided under the RMEWF: Financial Assistance for Medical Treatment of Ex-Servicemen –

Registration via the KSB: Following the fulfilment of these conditions, the eligible ESM/Widows can submit their applications via the official website of the Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat (KSBS). It becomes pivotal to highlight that the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) functions under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence.

Scrutinization by ZSWO: Once the online application is submitted, it is scrutinized by the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO), who works under the Zila Sainik Board. Following its verification, a hard and soft copy of the application is sent to the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) for further processing.

Processing at KSB Secretariat: Following its verification by the Section-in-charge at the Secretariat, the application moves for approval by the JD (Welfare). The penultimate step includes the application being processed for payment by the Welfare Section and the Accounts Section.

Attestation of Supporting Documents: Supporting documents, such as discharge books/documents, I-Card issued by Zila Sainik Board (ZSB), original medical bills by attending doctor, amongst other documents, require attestation by the respective ZSWO for a successful submission of the online application.

Financial Assistance for Serious Diseases: It becomes vital to highlight that there exists a separate scheme to meet expenses incurred on the treatment of serious ailments, including Angioplasty, Angiography, Open Heart Surgery, Valve Replacement, Pacemaker Implant, and Prostate Surgery.

The expenditure to cover the treatment of the aforementioned serious diseases falls under the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. This fund provides Serious Diseases Grant to Non-Pensioner ESM of all Ranks.

Impact and Performance:

Beneficiaries and Amount Disbursed: The following table includes the number of beneficiaries and total amount disbursed under the scheme in the last three years –

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Source: Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Armed Forces Flag Day Fund Grants: According to the last updated data of FY 2022-2023, a grant of approximately Rs 250 Crore was allocated to around 99,000 beneficiaries for medical treatment under the fund. Additionally, institutional grants have also been provided to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee and Mohali, Cheshire Home, and 36 War Memorial Hostels across India.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism: An online grievance redressal mechanism platform (CPGRAMS), which was launched by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances for citizens of India, has now been extended to Ex-Servicemen/Widows by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare so that their grievances can be attended to in a time-bound manner.

Emerging Issues:

Bank Accessibility: Account details of only two public banks – State Bank of India (SBI), or Punjab National Bank (PNB)- are considered to be valid vis-à-vis the online application to incur benefits of the scheme under RMEWF. Such a specific condition puts those Ex-Servicemen/Widows at a disadvantage who might hold accounts in other public/private banks in India. The criteria might also indirectly affect those veterans and widows who are marred by digital accessibility and financial impediments, such as people with no alternative sources of income.

Extensive Application Process: The application process might appear stringent to those veterans and widows who are marred by old age, loss of motor abilities, and lack of alternative sources of support. For such Ex-Servicemen/Widows, especially those with limited understanding of digital resources and support, the application process with its various steps might appear as a wearying task to be undertaken.

Way Forward:

According to the Economic Survey of India, the Total Health Expenditure (THE) in FY22 is estimated to be Rs. 9,04,461 crores. The increasing cost of health care in India has proven to be challenging for Ex-Servicemen/Widows who are not entitled to a pension. Under these circumstances, RMEWF – Financial Assistance for Medical Treatment of Ex-Servicemen has emerged as a catalyst to mitigate financial challenges faced by those Ex-Servicemen/Widows who are non-pensioners, have no source of income, and are in a state of penury.

To reiterate the words of the Defence Minister of India – Shri Rajnath Singh, a responsibility lies with the corporate sector of India as well, to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, and ensure the well-being of the countless Servicemen and Ex-Servicemen/Widows who have spent a substantial part of their lives safeguarding the integrity and sovereignty of the country.

References:

UMANG App India. (n.d.). https://web.umang.gov.in/landing/scheme/detail/rmewffinancial-assistance-for-medical-treatment-of-exservicemen_rmewf.html

WELFARE AND REHABILITATION SCHEME FOR EX-SERVICEMEN. (n.d.). https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1913306

RMEWF-Financial Assistance for Ex-Servicemen in Penury | Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare | Ministry of Defence | Government of India. (n.d.). https://www.desw.gov.in/welfareschemes/penuary

KSB Welfare Schemes at a glance | Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare | Ministry of Defence | Government of India. (n.d.). https://www.desw.gov.in/ksb-welfare-schemes-glance-0

Armed Forces Flag Day Fund CSR Conclave: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh exhorts the corporate sector to contribute generously for the well-being of ex-servicemen. (n.d.). https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1980790#:~:text=Press%20Release:%20Press%20Information%20Bureau

About the Contributor:

Aditi Singh Kaushik is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She also holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University. Her research interest lies in understanding the evolving roles of traditional and organic intellectuals in post-colonial countries, within a Gramscian framework.