Preparation to Start Mobile ECHS in the State

• 07 Jul 2023

Why In News?

On July 4, 2023, Brigadier Amrit Lal, director of the Sainik Welfare Department in Uttarakhand, announced that there is a preparation to provide free health facilities near home to about two lakh ex-servicemen and their dependents of the state. For this, preparations are on to start Mobile ECHS (Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) in Pahar.

Key Points

• This facility in the mountains will stop migration from the districts along the international border.
• It is known that in the military-dominated state, ECHS centres have been set up in various districts including Dehradun for health facilities for ex-servicemen and their dependents, but due to some centres being in remote areas, ex-servicemen and their dependents are not getting its benefits. Especially those ex-servicemen who are 80 years or more cannot reach the centre.
• It is to be known that according to the Director of the Sainik Welfare Department, this issue was raised by the Sainik Welfare Department in the meeting of Kendriya Sainik Board held in New Delhi in April this year.
• It was told in the meeting that Uttarakhand is a hilly state, which has a different geographical location. The problem is also being faced in the state due to the uniform standards for ECHS.
• Uniform standards have been set for ECHS by the Army Headquarters across the country. According to the director of the Sainik Welfare Department, an ECHS can be set up for a population of at least 7,500 ex-servicemen, while the Dehradun district has 36,500 ex-servicemen. Apart from this, he has a large number of dependents.
• Under the ECHS scheme, some fees are deposited as contributions to the retired soldiers and officers from the Indian Army at the time of retirement. After this, their ECHS card is made, on which they and their dependents get free health facilities for life. They are also provided health care in ECHS empanelled private hospitals.
• 40 to 45 km in the field. The distance can be covered in a while, while it takes hours in the mountains. Apart from this, there is also the problem of transport in the mountains. This problem of the ex-servicemen of the state has been raised in the meeting of the Kendriya Sainik Board so that ex-servicemen get the benefit of health facilities near their homes.