DESA NEWS LETTER  -  2008

KSB NEWS

DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN

1.      The eligibility of the retired Defence personnel to the status of ex-servicemen is governed by the definition as laid down by Department of Personnel and Training.  The definition has been undergoing changes from time to time.  The following is the broad categorization: ‑

(a) Those Released Before 01 Jul 68.    Any person who had served in any rank (whether as Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency. 

(b) Those Released on or After 01 Jul 68 but Before 01 Jul 79. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency. 

(c) Those Released on or After 01 Jul 79 but Before 01 Jul 87.   Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not less than 5 years of service if discharged at own request. 

(d) Those Released on or After 01 Jul 87. Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Indian Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from Defence Budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity other than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency. 

(e) Govt of India, Ministry of Defence (Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare) vide their office memorandum no. 12/1/2005/D (Res) dated 01 Feb 06 has conveyed that it has been decided with the approval of Hon�ble Raksha Mantri that such recruits who were boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/ disability pension, will also be covered under the category of Ex-servicemen for all practical purposes. 

(f)  Officer cadets boarded out of training academies  will be treated as ex-servicemen only for the purpose of employment in civil services.  

2.      The eligibility of the person to the status of ex-servicemen will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to his discharge. 

3.      In addition the personnel of Territorial Army (TA) of the following categories viz. pension holders for continuous embodied service; persons with disability attributable to military service; and gallantry award winners retired on or after 15.11.86 and the personnel of the Army Postal Service (APS) who are a part of the regular Army and retired from such service, i.e. directly from the Army Postal Service itself without reversion to P&T Department with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds, attributable to military service or circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension are also covered within the definition of ex-servicemen with effect from19 Jul 89. 

4.   Armed Forces.   Armed Forces of the Union means the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union including Armed Forces of the former Indian States but excludes the person who have served in Defence Security Corps, Genera Reserve Engineering Force, Lok Sahayak Sena and Para Military Force(PMF). 

5.   Procedure for Issue of Identity Card to Retiring Armed Forces Personnel. 

(a)     The Identity Card to the retiring Armed Forces personnel is issued by concerned Zila Sainik Board/Zila Sainik Welfare Office (ZSB/ZSWO) where the retiring defence personnel propose to settle down after retirement as recorded in his discharge document(s).  For this purpose, all retiring defence personnel are required to get their particulars filled in the registration form in duplicate at the Record Office at the time of their discharge. One copy of the registration form is forwarded by the Record Office to the concerned ZSB/ZSWO by post and the second copy by hand through the retiree himself.  Thereafter, the individual is required to call on the concerned ZSB/ZSWO along with three copies of the stamp size photographs, discharge certificate/PPO and other relevant service documents for issue of Identity Card.  At the ZSB/ZSWO, the particulars are scrutinized and in case the individual qualifies to the status of ex-servicemen, he will be asked to fill in an application form and Identity Card will be issued to him.  Forms for applying for registration by ex-servicemen and widows with their respective RSB/ZSB/ZSWO and issue of ex-serviceman/widow identity card are available at RSBs/ZSBs. The Secretary, KSB may also issue identity card to ESM for special case, whilst keeping the ZSBs informed. 

(b).   Please remember, Identity Card is a pre‑requisite for availing the benefits of the welfare schemes instituted under the "Armed Forces Flag Day Fund" vide Government of India SRO 7E dated 13 Apr 1993.  List of location of Sainik Welfare/ Rajya Sainik Boards is placed at Appendix �D�.

6.   Sainik Aramgah at Railway Station.   There are 17 Sainik Aramgahs open to all ranks of three services, GRPF personnel,        Ex-servicemen and TA personnel. The details of stations where presently Aramgah exist are as appended below:-