Monday, September 4, 2017

Sunday, July 23, 2017

PENURY GRANT for Ex-Servicemen

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EX-SERVICEMEN IN PENURY

Background

The scheme to provide financial assistance to non-pensioner Ex-Servicemen (ESM) in a state of penury was started in year 1981 with an amount of Rs 100/- per month for a period of two years. Thereafter, it was increased to Rs 500/-pm for two years in 2007 and then changed into onetime grant of Rs 30,000/- for life-time. This was revised by the Management Committee of AFFD Fund in Oct 2011 and revised the onetime grant into a monthly grant of Rs 1,000/-.

Aim

The aim of this aid gratis is to provide a small measure of relief from total penury to a non-pensioner ESM up to rank of Hav/equivalent and their widow.

Financial Assistance

For Penury is provided at the rate of Rs.4000/- per month (Applicable from 01 Apr 2017) per head for life time from AFFD Fund.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility criteria are to be met to avail financial assistance under this scheme are as follows:-

(a) Must be a non-pensioner ESM or his widow.

(b) Should be of rank Havildar/equivalent from the Navy/AF and below.

(c) Should be above age of 65 years.

(d) Should be recommended by respective ZSB and RSB.

(e) Details of bank account (in SBI/PNB only) and IFS Code.

Application Form

Application should be made in given form with recommendation of respective ZSWO & Secretary, RSB on it. A specimen form is enclosed. Copies of the following documents duly attested by ZSWO must accompany the application:-

(a) Service Document/Discharge Book of ESM.

(b) Age proof, if date of birth not given in the Service Document/Discharge Book.

(c) Identity Card of ESM/Widows issued by ZSB.

(d) Details of Bank A/c No (in PNB/SBI only) and IFS Code.

Channel of Application

Applications are required to be submitted by eligible ESM/widows at respective ZSB by 31 Mar or 30 Sep each year. ZSWO will scrutinize these applications and if found in order, forward them with soft copy of their data to concerned RSB. If found meeting QRs, RSB will forward all these applications by last day of the following month to the KSB Sectt for processing.

Processing of Applications

On receipt of applications at the KSB Sectt, these shall be processed by its Welfare Section in order of the date of their receipt. Such applications pertaining to AFFD Fund will be moved for approval of Competent Authority in one lot preferably on a quarterly basis.

Payment Procedure

After approval of the applications by the Competent Authority, the same will be processed for payment in batches of 200 applications by the Section. After verification of data, the Welfare Section will forward the batch list to the Accounts Section for making payments via ECS . The Jt Dir (Welfare) will display payment status of the approved applications on website(www.desw.gov.in).

Subsequent Grant

The Penury Grant, once approved by the Competent Authority, stands for life of the approved non-pensioner ESM or the widow. No fresh application will be required thereafter, however beneficiary must submit a 'life certificate' through respective ZSB once a year in the month of December for release penury grant in the following financial year. A specimen form of 'Life Certificate' is placed at Annexure 2 to this document. ZSWO will forward all such Life Certificates in one lot to KSB Sectt, by the following 15 January each year. All the cases of renewal will be put up to JD (Welfare) by 01 Mar, who will in turn obtain approval of Secy,KSB for continuation of the penury grant during next financial year. It may be noted that the financial assistance is non-transferable and will cease automatically upon death of the ESM or widow. It is the responsibility of respective ZSWO to inform the KSB Sectt regarding death of the beneficiary ESM/widow.