DESA NEWS LETTER 2008

SILENT FEATURES

#    IMPROVED INBA SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

#    NAVAL GROUP INSURANCE FUND

#    HOUSE BUILDING ADVANCE

#    TERMINATION OF UTI- SCUP

#    ISSUE OF MOBILITY EQUIPMENT

# RAILWAYS TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT AND VALIDITY ON COMPLIMENTARY CARD PASSES - CLARIFICATION THERE OF.

#    AIR TRAVEL CONCESSION 

#   ADMISSION TO PROFESSIONAL COLLEGES

#   PM SCHOLARSHIP FOR PBOR

#   FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM RMDF

#  AIR FORCE NAVAL HOUSING BOARD

#  YEAR OF THE NAVAL FAMILY (YONAF)

# CONSTITUTION OF GRIEVANCES COMMITTEE FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

# ESTABLISHMENT OF �SINGLE WINDOW CONTACT POINT� AT DEPARTMENT / DISTRICT LEVEL.   

1. Improvements in the INBA Welfare Schemes. The following decisions have been taken during Annual General Meeting of INBA held at Kochi on 19 Feb 08 and improvements in the existing benefit schemes will be admissible to naval personnel wef 01 Apr 08:- 

(a) Rate of Scholarship.  Rate of scholarship in respect of children of serving naval personnel has been enhanced upward from the forthcoming academic year ie 2008-09 as under:-

(i)           Boarders         -  20,000/- pa

(ii)          Day Scholars  -  10,000/- pa

          (b) Education Loan.  Quantum of education loan applicable to eligible serving naval personnel would henceforth be subject to the actual expenditure of the course and the availability of sufficient repayment capacity of the applicant as per the norms in vogue recoverable in maximum of 96 installments.

(c) Merit Scholarship. Merit scholarships are admissible for graduation courses to children of all naval pensioners. Besides these, scholarships for recognized vocational courses of 50 weeks or more duration are also given to sailors� children only. The rates of scholarship per annum are Rs 6,000/- for day scholars and Rs 10,000/- for boarders. Eligibility details are as under:-

_________________________________________________________________

 Children                                                 Officers� Children                                   Sailors� Children

                                                        Sc Stream      Hum Stream                        Sc Stream     Hum Stream

________________________________________________________________________________

For Graduation

Marks in 10+2 Board                             80%           75%                                                65%           60% 

For Post Graduation

Marks in Graduation                               70%          65%                                               65%           60%

For Vocational Courses

Marks in 10+2 Board                                  -                -                                                  65%             60%

Renewal                                                   60%           60%                                            60%                60%

(d)   Duration of Merit Scholarship. 

(i)   Duration of merit scholarship has been extended to 6 years for post 10+2 prospective higher course provided there is no break in the study. 

(ii)  Application form for scholarship is available with naval authorities, NCC units, Zila Sainik Boards and Secretary INBA. Typed/hand written applications are to reach Naval Headquarters by 01 Nov. 

(e)  Scholarship for Physically Challenged Children of Retired Naval Personnel.  Scholarship for physically challenged children of retired naval personnel are admissible for first two school going children between ages of 3 and 18 years ie. for a period of 15 years. The rates are as follows:- 

(i) Day Scholars - Rs 200/-pm   

(ii) Boarders       - Rs 400/-pm 

(f)          Lump sum Grant on Death of Naval Pensioner.   The lump sum grant-in-aid to next-of-kin on death of a pensioner after retirement is as follows:-       

          (i)  Officers -  Rs 20,000/-             

(ii)  Sailors   - Rs10,000/- 

(g)  Grant for Marriage of Children.  Next-of-kin of naval personnel, who die in harness and as pensioners, are given grant as under per child up to maximum of two children:- 

          (i)  Officers� Children   -   Rs 20,000/-       

          (ii)  Sailors�  Children    -   Rs 10,000/- 

(h)   Remittance of Benefits from INBA.  Remittance from INBA would be directly transferred to applicant�s bank account provided the bank account details including MICR and IFS codes are furnished in the application.  

(j)   Travel/ Incidental Expenses.    Naval pensioners required to be transferred from one service hospital to another out station service hospital for medical treatment have to incur substantial expenditure. To alleviate this financial hardship a grant of Rs 500/- as travel/incidental expenses is given on recommendation of concerned service hospital. 

(k)    Rehabilitation Grant. All sailors on invalidment from service due to TB/Paraplegia/Leprosy etc. are given a rehabilitation grant of Rs 7500/-  

(l)   Assistance for Self Employment.  Financial assistance up to Rs 20000/- is given to ex-sailors in indigent circumstances for starting self help economic venture like KIOSKS besides supply of sewing machines etc to widows.  

(m)    Rate of Subscription.    The rate of monthly subscription to INBA from members has been enhanced wef 01 Apr 08 as under:-         

           (i)  Officers   -     Rs 100/- per month 

           (ii)  Sailors    -      Rs 40/- per month          

2.  Naval Group Insurance Fund.  The following major decisions were been taken during Annual General Meeting held at Kochi on 19 Feb 08 for implementation:-

     (a)      General Group Insurance Scheme (GGIS). 

(i)  Death Whilst in Service.  Insurance cover under General Group Insurance Scheme enhanced to Rs 20 lacs for officers and Rs 10 lacs for sailors/naviks wef 01 Apr 08 against revised premium of Rs 2000/- pm and Rsp class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; : 63.0pt; ; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt">  

(ii) Post Retirement Death Insurance Extension Scheme (PRDIES).  Insurance cover under the PRDIES scheme stands at   Rs 4.5 lacs for officers and Rs 2 lacs for sailors against non refundable premium of Rs 20778/- on pro-rata basis and Rs 15500/- respectively for a period of 30 years after retirement or up to attainment of 75 years of age whichever is earlier.

(iii) Aviation, Submarine and IMSF Cadre Personnel. A widow/ NOK/ nominee of Aviation/ Submarine/ IMSF cadre personnel is entitled to Rs 4 lacs and 2 lacs for officers and sailors respectively in addition to the (a)(i) above, under additional GGIS.

 (iv)  Disability cover has been enhanced to 75% of insurance cover for 100% disability and on pro-rata basis up to 20% disability on invalidment from service. The disability cover is applicable to those members, who are discharged before the completion of engagement period.

3. House Building Advance (HBA). House Building Advance          (HBA) enhanced to Rs 25 lacs for officers and Rs 12 lacs for sailors subject to repayment capacity of member. Other conditions remain unchanged.  

4.  Termination of UTI - SCUP.  The UTI Mutual Fund, the sponsors of UTI SCUP Scheme, post restructuring of the Unit Trust of India, have  decided to terminate the UTI SCUP scheme wef 18 Feb 08 and offered an alternate health insurance product of New India Assurance Company (NIAC) to the members who are below 58 yrs in lieu of UTI SCUP. It has, therefore, been decided that:- 

(a)     All naval personnel who are below 58 years of age and are members of UTI SCUP scheme should withdraw from the SCUP scheme immediately. Members who have not yet withdrawn from the scheme are requested to submit the same to Secretary, Naval Group Insurance Fund at IHQ, MOD (N) for submission to UTI Head Office at Delhi for refund.  

(b)     Members who are 58 years of age and above to continue with UTI SCUP scheme. They will be entitled to utilise the empanelled hospitals as hitherto.   

5.  Issue of Mobility Equipment.  The Kendriya Sainik Board provides Tri-scooters to the disabled ex-servicemen, whose disability has been accepted as attributable to military service. Modalities to avail this assistance from Kendriya Sainik Board are as follows:- 

 (a)    Application on prescribed proforma, available at ZSB/RSB, is to be submitted to DESA along with following documents:-  

(i)  Copy of the CDA (P), Allahabad PPO, under which disability has been accepted as attributable to military service duly attested by the Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZWSO). Copy of pension book is not required. Percentage of disability may also be mentioned.

(ii)    A certificate in original from the nearest military hospital that the individual can move effectively only with the help of motorised tricycle.  

           (iii)    Copy of Identity card duly attested by the ZSWO.  

(iv) Copy of Discharge Book of ex-servicemen duly attested by ZSWO.  

                   (v)    Nearest railway station of the individual.  

  (b)  Application, along with the above documents, is to be  submitted to DESA duly routed through Zila Sainik Board/Rajya Sainik Board with specific recommendations.  

6.    Railways Travel Entitlement and Validity on Complimentary Card Passes - Clarification thereof.  

(a)  Complimentary card passes are issued to different categories of persons under various schemes approved by Ministry of Railways from time to time.  The conditions of entitlement and validity of these card passes vary from one category to the other. 

(b)  With a view to checking misuse of the card passes it is essential that ticket issuing/ checking authorities are properly educated of the validity and travel entitlement of the card passes issued. The following table depicts various categories of persons being issued complimentary card passes, their validity and travel entitlement etc. 

(c)   Card passes which do not have the endorsement either in print or with rubber stamp showing Rajdhani/Shatabdi travel are not valid for travel by such trains.

7.   Air Travel Concession.  Following categories of personnel are eligible to the following concessions in fare for air travel in domestic flights of the Indian Airlines:-   

(a)     75% concession to recipients of Gallantry Awards of Class II  & I viz PVC,  Ashok Chakra, MVC and Kirti Chakra, Victoria Cross, George Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and George Medal.  

(b)     50% concession to permanently war disabled officers who have been invalidated out of service and the dependent members of their families. 

(c)      50% concession to war widows of post independent era.   

8.    Admission to Professional Colleges.   At present 28 seats in MBBS and 1 seat in BDS under Central Government Nominee quota are available through KSB for wives/widows and wards of categories of Defence personnel in the following order of priority:- 

(a)         Killed in action. 

(b)         Disabled in action and boarded out from service. 

(c)         Died while in service with death attributable to military service. 

(d)         Gallantry Award/ other award winners. 

9.      Prime Minister�s Scholarship Scheme for Wards of Ex-servicemen (PBOR) and Widows of Personnel Who Died in Harness.    To encourage higher technical and professional education for the wards of widows and ex-servicemen of Armed Forces, Prime Minister�s Scholarship Scheme was introduced from the Academic year 2006-07. 

(a)  Eligibility 

(i)      Wards of ex-servicemen and their widows (below officers rank).

(ii)      Wards of widows of ex-servicemen died in harness due to causes attributed to military service. 

(iii)    Widows of ex-servicemen died in harness. 

(iv)    The scheme is open only for widows and unmarried wards of ESM/ Widows. However, marriage/re-marriage at a subsequent date would not disqualify the awardee. 

(b)  Courses Eligible for Scholarship. First Professional degree programme in engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, MBA, MCA, pharma, nursing, B Ed, M Ed etc duly recognized by the respective government regulatory bodies, such as All India Council of Technical Education/ Medical Council of India etc. 

(c)   Academic Requirement.  At least 60% marks at the 10+2 level for the initial sanction. For renewal in subsequent years, 50% marks each year. 

(d)   Duration of the Scholarship. Two to five years as approved by the concerned regulatory body for that programme.  

(e)   Amount of Scholarship.   The amount of scholarship would be as follows:- 

                    (i)   Rs 1250/- per month for boys (paid annually).         

          (ii)   Rs 1500/- per month for girls (paid annually). 

(iii)  Application form and further details can be downloaded from www.dgrindia.com. 

10. Revised Financial Assistance From Raksha Mantri�s Discretionary Fund (RMDF).   The financial assistance, to be provided to needy ex-servicemen, widows and their wards from RMDF for various purposes applicable wef 10 May 07 is as indicated below. The applicant should submit his/ her application along with Financial Condition Report form to the  concerned RSBs/ ZSBs. Application forms and FCR are available at RSBs/ZSBs. Details are given below:-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Eligibility

(a)            Pensioner  whose  pension  is  below  Rs 3000/-  and  non-pensioners. 

(b)  ESM, widows/dependents not in receipt of fixed medical allowance/ in receipt of fix medical allowance but expend more than Rs 2400/- on the present treatment for which the assistance is sought (in case of medical grant).  

(c)   PBOR and their widows provided they have not got assistance from other source (in case of medical grant).    

(d)             Officers who spend more than Rs 50000/- on treatment but got no assistance from any other source (in case of medical grant).  

       (e)     All cases involving accidents (in case of medical grant). 

(f)     World  war II  veterans and  their  widows  who are not in receipt of any financial assistance/ old age/ world war veterans� pension scheme from the respective state government.  

(g)   Certificate from the Zila Sainik Board that there is no financial assistance provided from state government or any other sources.  

How to Apply.   The applicant should submit his/ her application along with FCR form to the concerned RSBs/ ZSBs.

 Note:     Application form and FCR are available at RSBs/ ZSBs. 

Documents required. 

         (a)     Attested copy of discharge book. 

         (b)     Ex-servicemen/ widows Identity card. 

         (c)     Ownership certificate (in case of house repair). 

(d)     Death certificate (in case of funeral allowance). 

(e)         Dependents  certificate (in  case  of orphan  daughter  of (ESM). 

(f)   Certificate from village Sarpanch/ registrar, birth certificate of bride, ration card and marriage invitation card (in case of marriage grant). 

(g)   Certificate from Military hospital with reason for not reporting there for treatment (in case of medical grant). 

(h) Certificate from AGI/AFGI whether any similar assistance provided or not (in case of medical grant). 

(j)   Copy of discharge certificate from hospital (in case of medical grant).  

(k) Bonafide certificate from school (in case of education grant).   

11.    Air Force Naval Housing Board.   

(a)  Housing Schemes.  The Board announces housing schemes from time to time at locations where land is being either acquired, or has already been acquired. Such schemes follow one or a combination of the following concepts:- 

(i)   Group housing 

        (ii) Row housing 

        (iii) Multistory flats 

(iv) Single units  

(v)   Developed plots 

(b)  Promulgation. Schemes are promulgated through �K� broadcast in the Air Force, IG messages in the Navy and through the AFNHB website www.afnhb.org

 (c)     Address:       

Air Force Naval Housing Board
         Air Force Station, Race Course
         New Delhi -110003

Tel:          23793462/ 63
Fax:         011-23014942

E-mail:     directorgeneral@afnhb.org
Website:  www.afnhb.org   

12.   Year of the Naval Family (YONAF).   

(a)   The �Year of the Sailor� in 2006, enabled the Navy to focus on improving the quality of life and issues related to service conditions of the sailors.  This has been followed up with the year 2007 being dedicated to the �Year of the Naval Family�, to holistically encompass all aspects of the naval walk of life and include the families of officers, sailors and defence civilians.  The focus was on providing improved facilities to the naval families� and, comprehensively addressing the needs of building and revitalising community values. 

(b)  Some of the important initiatives which were implemented are:-

(i)  Creation of �Wellness Clinics� and conduct of �Health Camps� at various stations, to holistically address issues of positive health and emotional stress. 

(ii)  Yoga, meditation and stress management classes with services of professional counselors.         

(iii)  Conduct of vocational training for wards of naval civilians. 

(iv)  Facilitating  subsidized  tuitions and coaching classes with reputed firms. 

(iv)        Conduct of foreign languages courses for dependents. 

(vi)   Extending facilities of Indian Navy Placement Agency to spouses and children. 

(vii)    Arranging transit accommodation facilities for sailors� families. 

(viii)  Renovations of hostels, health clubs, sports facilities, messes and community areas towards improvement in quality of life. 

(ix)   Specific thrust on widows� rehabilitation to provide holistic assistance by way of various scholarship schemes, employment avenues, facilitating financial and legal aid. 

(x)  The Divisional system followed for uniformed personnel   has been extended to defence civilian employees as well, for better personalized rapport and provide a healthy working. 

(c)   Initiatives which have a longer lead time in fructifying are:- 

(i)           A total of Rs 7.5 crore has been catered for works pertaining to improvement in quality of life in Annual Works Plan. 

(ii)  Enhanced scale of swimming pools and badminton courts has been incorporated in the revised scales of accommodation and furniture for defence services (SADS), presently pending Govt approval. 

(iii)    With a view to improve the medial facilities, a case has been taken up to re-designate family clinics as MI rooms and provide adequate medical equipment and staff. 

(iv)        A case has also been taken up for delegating powers to Command HQ to enable referral to civil hospitals instead of outstation military/command hospitals. 

(v)  Setting up naval holiday homes on the lines of �Aram Grahs� of the army. 

(vi)  Towards alleviating water scarcity, Rs 67.5 lacs has been allocated for fitment of RO plant at Navy Nagar, Mumbai.  Additional measures of providing loft tanks in houses, rain water harvesting etc. are also being implemented. 

(vii) An increase in the authorized scale of married accommodation for Petty officers is being sought from MoD. 

(viii)       Allotment of additional DD quota through Railway Board. 

13.   Constitution of Grievances Committee for Defence Personnel.   

       The administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh is pleased to constitute grievances committee for monitoring grievances of the serving soldiers/ ex-servicemen and their dependents, consisting of the following namely:- 

          (a)    Deputy Commissioner                                        Chairman          

          (b)    Senior Superintendent of Police                       Member 

          (c)    Additional Commissioner, MC, Chandigarh     Member 

          (d)    Additional Deputy Commissioner                      Member 

          (e)    Assistant Estate Officer                                     Member         

(f)    Joint Secretary Home                                          Member 

          (g)    Rep. from Station HQ Chandi Mandir               Member 

          (h)    DPI (Colleges)                                                   Member 

          (j)     DPI (Schools)                                                     Member 

          (k)    Secretary, Chandigarh Housing Board             Member 

          (l)     XEN (HQ) from Engineering Department         Member         

(m)   Zila Sainik Welfare Office                               Secretary 

Notes  

(i)   All complaints/ grievances shall be routed through the Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, UT Chandigarh. The complaints/ grievances will be registered and a distinct registered number shall be given to each application. Separate registration number will be assigned to cases of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen. Zila Sainik Welfare Office shall maintain progress on each application. 

(ii)    The Head of Departments/ offices shall maintain record of complaints received from serving soldiers/ ex-servicemen and their dependents in a register and pursue the cases on priority basis. A priority slip should be placed on their files.  Higher priority should be given to the cases of serving soldiers.  A monthly progress report should be submitted to the Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Sector 21D, Chandigarh, giving details of progress on pending cases for keeping centralized records of progress. 

(iii)   During the public meeting hours in the offices of UT Chandigarh, priority should be given to serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents. 

(iv)  The committee should meet once in a month.       

 14.  Establishment of �Single Window Contact Point� At Department / District Level.    Karnataka Government Order No 122: KSS: 2007, Bangalore dated 10.01.2008 to redress the problems to provide necessary assistance and easy processing of the application received from the serving soldiers / ex-servicemen and widow pertaining to problems like land disputes, other legal disputes, appointments, court cases etc etc. To resolve problems as mentioned above, Government has nominated District Commissioner as the Chairman of the committee at district level and Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement, Bangalore as a chairman at Department level. The composition of the members and their functions are as under:- 

(a)  Composition of Members �Single Window Contact    Point� at  District Level is as under:-

                    (i)    Concerned District Commissioner                                         -    Chairman       

                   (ii)   Concerned District Superintendent   of Police                       -    Member                                 

(iii)  Concerned Tehsildar                                                                -    Member  

(iv)  Concerned District of Joint/ Deputy                                        -    Member
Director of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement 

(b)    District Commissioner will nominate a nodal officer in the concerned department.  Deputy director/ assistant director of the other concerned departments will also be included as co-opted   member for the said committee as on required basis. 

(c)  Composition of Members �Single Window Contact Point� at department level is as under:-  

                   (i)     Director, Department of Sainik Welfare      -  Chairman
                    and Resettlement, Bangalore.         

                   (ii)    Joint Director (Bangalore Urban District)     -  Member
                    of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement.        

                   (iii)   Deputy Director (Bangalore Rural)               -  Member
                    of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement. 

                   (iv)   Nominated representative of Police             -  Member
                   Commissioner Bangalore. 

                   (v)    Superintendent of Police (Bangalore Rural) -  Member
                   Bangalore.                  

(vi)   District Commissioner (HQs)                        -  Member
          Bangalore (Urban) and Bangalore (Rural) 

(vii)      Joint Director (HQs) Department of Sainik  -  Member 
Welfare and resettlement Bangalore  cum-Secretary and Nodal Officer 

(d)  If needed, Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement, Bangalore will include Officers from any other      department as co-opted members. 

15.  State Level Function.   At state level, Secretary Home department (PCAS) is the Chairman under whom meeting will be conducted frequently to  discuss about the functions/ progress of the �Single Window Contact  Point� at District level and Department level. 

16.  Each department at the Secretariat level will nominate one       �Nodal Officer�. A letter to be issued to all departments with name of the officer, address and contact numbers to enable interaction with Nodal Officer to investigate or to know the present position/ progress of the grievances received from serving soldiers/ ex-servicemen and widows of Karnataka. 

17.    �Single Window Contact Point� will function the following:- 

(a)  District Level.   On receipt of grievance application, the Nodal Officer will examine and direct the application to the concerned office within the district where the action is to be     instituted in a time bound manner.  The Nodal   Officer   will ensure that the applicant receives the reply timely. A monthly meeting will be convened by the District Commissioner wherein action taken is discussed and report submitted to Director Department Sainik  Welfare and Resettlement on the first week of every month. 

(b)  Department Level.   A meeting will be conducted once in every month. The action taken at District level will be  scrutinized and report submitted to the Government by second week of  every  month. 

(c)  State Level. A meeting will be conducted frequently and the points and progress of the cases at district and department level will be verified and, action if any, at Government level will be initiated as recommended from district/ department level.