The Regional Sainik Boards (RSBs) and District Sainik Welfare Officers/Boards (DSWs/ZSBs) serve as a crucial link between the Armed Forces community and the State/Union Territory administration. Their responsibilities are comprehensive, spanning welfare, resettlement, public outreach, and administrative oversight. This article outlines the key duties that ensure the well-being of Ex-Servicemen (ESM), their families, and serving personnel’s dependents.
Welfare and Resettlement Initiatives
A primary function of the RSBs/DSWs is to champion the cause of the Armed Forces community through direct and indirect support mechanisms.
Promoting Welfare and Financial Support
- Advocacy and Resettlement: They are tasked with promoting measures toward the welfare and resettlement of ESM and the families of both serving and deceased Armed Forces personnel. (a)
- Fund Management: Responsibilities include maintaining the State’s Amalgamated Special Fund and instituting ESM welfare schemes in line with the decisions of the State Management Committee (SMC). (e)
- Grievance Redressal: They organize ESM rallies, grievance redressal camps, and pension adalats to disseminate information on welfare schemes and promptly settle issues projected by ESM and their dependents. (l)
- Fundraising: They actively conduct collection drives for the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund and organize committee meetings to set targets for various state and voluntary agencies. (r)
Employment and Self-Employment Support
- Job Coordination: RSBs/DSWs coordinate and pursue ESM reservation in State jobs. This involves liaising with various state ministries, undertakings, and enterprises to seek vacancies as per state reservation policy. (n)
- Vacancy Monitoring: They are responsible for monitoring such vacancies to ensure that ESM or widows utilize the available opportunities. (n)(ii)
- Policy Formulation: They help formulate state policies on reservation for ESM in conformity with the Central model, ensuring their due place in the 100-point roster. (n)(iii)
- Private Sector & Entrepreneurship: They monitor employment opportunities in the Private Sector (p) and actively assist ESM/widows in planning and funding of self-employment ventures. (q)
- Training Feedback: They report to the DGR on ESM training conducted and provide suggestions for course changes to align with current industry trends. (t)
Administrative Oversight and Coordination
The RSBs/DSWs act as the administrative hub for Sainik Welfare activities within the state, ensuring proper governance and timely information flow.
Organisational Management and Control
- Sainik Welfare Oversight: They oversee the functioning of the Sainik Welfare organisation in the State in accordance with prescribed policies and rules. This includes the control and supervision of ZSBs/ZSWOs under the RSB. (c)
- Staffing and Compliance: They coordinate with the State/UT administration for the timely filling of vacancies in RSB/ZSBs and ensure employment is exclusively for ESM/dependents to qualify for the Central share of establishment costs. (d)
- Statutory Compliance: DSWs must ensure that the State/UT Govt Orders/Notification on the composition of the Sainik Boards (RSB/ZSBs) and the SMC is correct and up-to-date (Note).
Data Management and Reporting
- Statistics Maintenance: A critical duty is the maintenance of up-to-date statistics of ESM, disabled ESM, widows, dependents, and families of serving personnel, including in digital form. They must also forward half-yearly ESM census data to DGR and KSB Sectt. (k)
- Coordination with KSB: They maintain close coordination with KSB Secretariat (KSB Sectt) on all issues, ensuring the timely submission of feedback, reports, claims for Central establishment costs, and Half-Yearly Performance Reports. (g)
- Website and IT Infrastructure: They are responsible for providing, operating, and maintaining the State RSB website with updated data (h) and ensuring up-to-date IT infrastructure and services for RSB/ZSBs and ESM. (j)
High-Level Meetings and Inspections
- Annual Meetings: They coordinate the conduct of annual RSB and SMC meetings under the Chairmanship of the Governor/Lt Gov/Chief Minister to review policies and formulate new ones. (f)
- ZSB Inspection: RSBs are required to conduct Annual Inspections of the ZSBs and submit reports to the DCs, Chief Secretary, and Secretary, KSB. (u)
- Zonal Meetings: They conduct Zonal Meetings of RSBs as nominated by the KSB Sectt. (v)
Public Interface and Synergistic Collaboration
The RSBs/DSWs play an essential role in bridging the civil-military gap and working with other agencies for maximum impact.
Public Awareness
- Dissemination of Information: They are responsible for disseminating information to the general public regarding the Armed Forces and for adopting innovative measures to enhance public interest in the Armed Forces. (b)
- Publicity: They ensure wide publicity, including on social media, for events/activities being held for ESM welfare and on related decisions taken by the State Govt. (s)
Liaison with Military and Allied Agencies
- Synergy with HQs: They maintain synergy with Command HQs, Area/Sub-Area authorities, the concerned Regional Centre of ECHS, and DGR Zone heads. (m)
- Support to Agencies: They provide necessary support to these agencies, especially concerning liaison with State administration and the conduct of ESM outreach programmes in the State. (m)
The comprehensive nature of these duties highlights the RSBs/DSWs as critical institutions for safeguarding the interests and honoring the service of India’s Armed Forces personnel and their families.
