Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), a department under Ministry of Defence was created in the year 2004. In view of the expanding population of ex-servicemen (ESM) and widows, there were persistent demands from service Headquarters and various associations for a separate Department to look after the welfare, resettlement and rehabilitation of ESM, war widows and their dependents. In 1986, a decision was taken to create an independent resettlement division in the Department of Defence.
A new Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) was created in the Ministry of Defence on 22nd September, 2004 in order to pay focused attention to the welfare and resettlement of ESM. DESW is mandated to formulate and implement various policies and programmes for the welfare and resettlement of Ex-Servicemen in the country.
The Department consists of two Divisions i.e. (i) Pension Division; and (ii) Resettlement Division. The Pension Division of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare deals with pension policies for the Armed Forces personnel and redressal of grievances of Ex-servicemen whereas the Resettlement Division looks after the remaining matters. Further, DESW has 3 Attached offices namely, Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat (KSB Sectt.), Directorate General of Resettlement, (DGR) and Central Organisation, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (CO, ECHS).
KSB Sectt. is responsible for the welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their dependents and also for the administration of welfare funds. It is assisted in its task by 34 Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and 403 Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs), which are under the administrative control of respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
The Government of India shares 75% of the expenditure incurred on the maintenance of RSBs/ZSBs in respect of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh and 60% for other States/UTs while the remaining expenditure is borne by respective State Governments.
The office of Directorate General of Resettlement implements various Policies / Schemes / Programmes for pre and post retirement training, re-employment and self- employment of ex-servicemen. The DGR is assisted in its task by 5 Directorate Resettlement Zones (DRZs) co-located with the Army Command Headquarters at Udhampur, Chandimandir, Lucknow, Kolkata and Pune.
KSB Welfare Schemes at a glance
| S.No. | Title of Scheme | Pension Status (Pensioner/Non-pensioner) | Rank | Other Eligibility Conditions | Amount of Financial Assistance |
| 1. | Assistance to Ex-Servicemen in Penury | Only non-pensioner | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force | ESM and their widows who are above 65 years of age and are not in receipt of any pension. | Rs.4,000/- per month per beneficiary for life time. |
| 2. | Assistance for Education of Children/Widows of ESM | Any | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force | Limited to two dependent children of ESM | Rs.1000/- per month per head for the previous academic year. Payable in one instalment in a financial year. |
| 3. | Assistance to 100% Disabled Children of ESM | Any | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force | 100% disabled children of ESM | Rs 3,000/- per month, payable on monthly basis. |
| 4. | Assistance for marriage of daughters of ESM/Remarriage of Widows | Any | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force | Applicable up to two daughters as also for remarriage of widows. | i. Rs 50,000/- per daughter. ii. Rs 50,000/- for widow remarriage. |
| 5. | Assistance to non-pensioner ESM for medical treatment | Only non-Pensioner | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force | To meet routine medical expenses during the year. | Grant of maximum of Rs.30,000/- per year. |
| 6. | Assistance to Orphan children of ESM | Any | All Ranks | Orphaned sons upto the age of 21 years and orphaned unmarried daughters. | Rs.3000/- per month |
| 7. | Assistance for vocational training of widows of ESM | Any | Up to the rank of Havildar in Army and equivalent in Navy and Air Force. | i. Course may be pursued at any recognized vocational training institution run by RSB/ZSB, States like ITI or private training institutions of repute like NIIT etc. ii. Payable on successful completion of the vocational training. | One time aid of upto Rs.20,000/-. |
| 8. | Assistance for treatment of serious diseases to ESM/Widows | Only non-pensioner | All Ranks | The financial assistance for treatment of the following approved serious diseases: • Cancer/dialysis • Angiography & Angioplasty. • CABG. • Open heart surgery • Valve replacement • Pacemaker Implant • Cerebral stroke • Prostrate surgery • Joint replacement • Renal failure | Limited to a maximum of Rs.1,25,000/- in a year. (Rs.75,000/- per annum for Cancer and Dialysis) Restricted to 75% and 90% For Non-Pensioner Officers/Widows and Non- Pensioners Other Ranks/widows respectively of total expenditure incurred on medical treatment, hospitalization, medicines, etc. |
| 9. | Assistance for procurement of mobility equipment for disabled ESM | Any | All Ranks | With disability of 50% or more after their retirement. | Limited to a maximum of Rs. 1,00,000/- per ESM. |
| 10. | Assistance as interest Subsidy on Home Loan to ESM | Any | All Ranks | War Bereaved, War Disabled and Attributable Peace time casualties. | Limited to the interest paid on the loan limit of Rs 1,00,000/- even though the loan taken may be of a higher amount. |
Self Employment Schemes of Directorate General Resettlement (DGR)
| Sl. No. | Title | Details |
| 1 | Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Coal Loading and Transportation Scheme | Details |
| 2 | Coal Tipper Attachment Scheme for Widows and Disabled ESM | Details |
| 3 | Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of Oil Product Agencies under 8% Quota Scheme | Details |
| 4 | Management of Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) Outlets | Details |
| 5 | Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk Booths and Fruit and Vegetable (Safal) Shops | Details |
| 6 | Management of CNG station by ESM (Officers) in NCR | Details |
| 7 | Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of regular LPG distributorship | Details |
| 8 | Issue of Eligibility Certificate for Allotment of Retail Outlet (Petrol & Diesel) | Details |
| 9 | Security Agency Scheme | Details |
| 10 | Scheme for providing Technical Services | Details |