ONE WINDOW FOR VETERANS AND WIDOWS

Sustainable And Valuable Initiative for Timely Assistance

SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM SERVING TO VETERANS AND WIDOWS

Foundation

There are numerous schemes published on different websites, documents, magazines and publications regarding welfare schemes for Widows and ESM.

Implementation of the schemes is the responsibility of Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) for the Veterans and Widows however those who die in harness are beneficiaries of the schemes of Army. Once the assistance is provided, the veteran and widow become responsibility of KSB.

There are more than 23 agencies that have some scheme but do not have any access to the veterans and widows. Likewise, respective records hold the data of veterans and widows and there is a complete disconnect. There is no central repository where records are maintained, eligibility for welfare schemes assessed, records of veterans and widows kept etc resulting in each organisation functioning independently causing deep distress to veterans and widows.

There is a need to introduce “ONE WINDOW” for Veterans and Widows by bringing all stakeholders on one common platform. The two-sided model will have over 35 lac Veterans and Widows plus over 1.5 million serving on one side and all government organisations on other. The serving seamlessly move from service into retirement. Getting the current veterans and widows on the software is a one-time affair.

The impact will be felt directly by 35 lac veterans and widows and by extension more than 2 crore dependents. A paper giving out the life of a veteran and widow is attached

SAMMAAN

SAMMAAN is all about Veterans and Widows. No one knows that they exist. A veteran or a widow may be residing opposite the gate of a Military Station, but no one knows that they exist. There is no reason to know either. If this were true, Army must disassociate itself with the ESM Rallies and “Veer Naari”(whatever the term means). Since Army ethos is too deep and the connections with past too strong, we need to utilise the modern technology to connect everyone. SAMMAAN is NOT an NGO. It doesn’t ask for funds. It focuses on making the life easier for Veterans and Widows. It focuses on being positive and constructive part of the society.

Where as

SAVITA (Sustainable And Valuable Initiative for Timely Assistance) represents widows,

VOICE (Veterans Of India for Constructive Engagement)represents Veterans of India.

ONE WINDOW FOR WIDOWS AND VETERANS

A PROJECT UNDER “SAVITA”

Sustainable And Valuable Initiative for Timely Assistance

WIDOWS LIFE

A typical day in the life of a forces widow is to look after her children, school, home, in-laws, dependent parents, social requirements etc. There is the lifetime grief of loss of husband to which she has no one supporting her. Deep in rural India where more than 95% widows reside, the problems do not end here.

There is pension to manage, nearest medical facilities are in district, forces are not around, station headquarters are far, CSD facilities are non-existent and practically there is no connect with forces. There is illiteracy to compound the problems, forces communicate in English, and a widow cannot trust anyone around her. Greed makes her easiest target.

An odd colleague of her husband is in touch and cannot help. Going to ECHS, Station HQ or CSD is a daylong affair since bus is the only cheap transport. She cannot ever go if the children are school going. The facilities hence are practically not utilised.

Official communication on schemes is at Zilla Sainik Board, pinned on boards with hundreds of letters. No one can ever come to know about any scheme.

VETERANS LIFE

Veterans spend even more pathetic life. There are no jobs near home. They live away from home in same state of other states. His family continues at village since he cannot afford to support family outside.  He pays for his own accommodation, food and conveyance. He supports his family back in village. ECHS, CSD, Schemes etc are meaningless since he cannot avail anything.

A sepoy at 17 years, Naik at 22 years and a Havildar at 24 years go on pension. Their age respectively is 35-37, 40-42 and 42-44 years. The children are in primary schools to maximum higher secondary. The struggle for life takes them far and away for jobs, away from families. 95% Army PBOR retires at this age. They are fighting battle for their survival; how can they avail any scheme or facility?

DEATH OF A SOLDIER

It matters if he died in harness or after retirement, it matters if he died as a battle casualty or as physical casualty, it matters whether he had a gallantry award or not, it matters if he died for a cause “attributable” to military service or not. His widow matters if she can become part of glamour of ESM rallies.

A widow did not choose to become a widow.

A widow did not select the place of death of her husband.

A widow did not choose mode of her husband’s death.

A widow did not choose to be moderately educated.

Why punish her just because she is a widow?

AGENCIES

More than 21 agencies have something to do with Veterans and Widows under EX-GRATIA & WELFARE SCHEMES FOR WIDOW/ESM covering period from retirement or death till as long as possible.

1. Central Government.
2. Army.
3. CW3&4
4. AGIF
5. ECHS
6. CSD
7. Kendriya Sainik Board
8. Rajya Sainik Bd
9. Zilla Sainik Bd
10. AWES for fees
11. DOPT&M
12. Educational Institutions
13. Station HQ
14. PCDA
15. Banks
16. PSUs
17. DIAV
18. AWWA
19. QMG Br
20. Regtl Centres
21. AWHO
22. PMSS
23. War Memorial Hostels.

It does not end here. Army Commanders Funds, CSD QD’s, help by unit etc. and much more. These give an impression that veterans are looked after nicely but sadly truth is far from it.

DAILY STRUGGLE

Veterans and Widows get their pension, and that is all. They have no access to rest. There is no last mile connectivity. ECHS decides to change cards to upgrade to 64KB. The ESM and Widow must do complete paperwork as is it is being applied for the first time. The number of times they will be required to go to ECHS cannot be predicted. Their life explained in initial part refers.

Records do not have proper documentation and missing Part II orders is normal. They simply intimate ‘Sons Part II order not found in records”. ECHS is blacked out for Veteran and Widow. The onus is on the veteran/widow to get the Part II Order.

CSD Cards require renewal each year so does ‘life Certificate” process of banks. CSD Card can be used by anyone so far as pin number is given, ECHS is slightly difficult. Pension ceases in bank if life certificate is not submitted.

The onus of taking benefit out of Welfare Schemes lies on veteran/widow. A simple cash grant for daughter’s marriage cannot be obtained since the repetitive nature of paperwork is bound to have errors. Out of frustration they leave it. Children Education Grant again goes largely unutilised.

DATA STORAGE

All other schemes are related to events, dates, situations etc and spread over a period of time. The agencies mentioned above have no common platform where they can upload data, digitise and secure it, let agencies use the common repository etc. A soldier’s life in services is controlled by Part II Orders. These need to be digitised real time. Birth, death, family details, NoK, children etc. must be uploaded immediately on occurrence. AADHAAR has come as a boon. The data can be so securely be stored.

Each agency involved can be seamlessly integrated in the software. This is the Government Part. The ‘Master Controller” agency should be the one that is directly responsible for looking after Veterans and Widows.

ONE WINDOW- “HEART TO HEART” “DIL-SE-DIL-TAK”

For a veteran and widow, spread across pan India, one app, one web site, one window will completely eradicate all the problems. It is very important to address all issues on software and make it geography independent. Every Zilla Sainik Board, Station HQ, ESCH, CSD, Unit and Forces Establishment become the only stop solution. The veteran or widow goes to the nearest one to his/her house and all problems are addressed. The website has two stakeholders. The Government Part explained above and the second one being Veteran and Widow. This is service, rank and geography independent. Complete family can use the authorised facilities regardless of where they stay out of choice or compulsion.

WHO CAN DO IT?

“ONE WINDOW” , “HEART-TO-HEART” , “DIL-SE-DIL-TAK” can only be achieved by PMO since more than one ministry are involved. It touches a veteran or widow directly. Today the struggle is not to demand more facilities or money, but it is just to get what is legitimately theirs. The first step to win the Veterans and Widows, and by extension their families and dependents is to give them what has been made for them.

HELPING THE VIOCELESS

With one stroke, the complete community of Veterans and Widows can be won over and confidence of the Government restored. The situation on ground is much darker than what stands explained.

 DAILY STRUGGLE

Veterans served pan-India for INDIA. Let them live a dignified life pan-India by reaching out “DIL-SE-DIL-TAK”.

Please push “ONE WINDOW CONTACT” for Veterans and Widows.

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24 Aug, 2020 : Dot On Target Post 1 Pakistan Bogey

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