Soon after WW II, in order to help the demobilized soldiers, nucleus employmentexchanges were established. Following the 1947-48 J&K Operations, the inescapable need for resettling the war-disabled, war-wounded and war-widows was fathomed at variousstrataand fora. Consequently, a small cell was commissioned in the Adjutant General’s Branch,Army HQs. Given their infinitesimal size, the requirement of the Navy and Air Force was deemed insignificant and for this reason question of any Inter-Services construct did not arise.
With the multi-dimensional technological advancement, the Navy andAir Forcenurtured manifold in the Second World War, which formed the building-blocks, of theIndianSoldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Board, in March 1951. 3. After the 1965 and 1971 wars, the need for resettlement, rehabilitation and welfareof war-widows and war-disabled increased by leaps and bounds. In 1975, theBoardwasrechristened as Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), at the Centre. The present day KSB Secretariat functions under Dept of Ex-servicemen Welfare of the Ministry of Defence (videGovt of IndiaNotification No. 1, No. 10(02)/I/D (Res.)/2007 dated 29 Jan 2009)
What is Zila Sainik Board ?
Details of role and responsibility of Zila Sainik Board should be known to all ESM and their family members. Welfare of the Ex-Servicemen and their dependents is the joint responsibility of the Central Govt and State Govt. State Govt Plays vital role in solving problems of the ESM and their families/dependents. Like the Kendriya Sainik Board at the Centre, the Rajya Sainik Board and Zila Sainik Boards are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of resettlement and welfare schemes for Ex-Servicemen, widows and their dependents residing in their respective States / UTs / Districts.
Composition of Zila Sainik Boards.
(a) President. District Collector.
(b) Vice-President. Senior ESM.
(c) Ex-Officio members. Heads of State Govt Depts/ RecruitingOfficer.
(d) Non- official members. Two ESMs and four prominent citizens.
(e) Secretary. Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO).
Main Role of ZSBs
To assist the Central Government in this regard, there are 34 Rajya Sainik Boards and 403 Zila Sainik Boards in the country.
The Secretary KSB advises the Department of Sainik Welfare in the States / UTs on the policies for resettlement and welfare of Ex-Servicemen/widows and seeks reports from the Director, Department of Sainik Welfare / Secretary RSB and Zila Sainik Welfare Officer / Secretary Zila Sainik Board, on implementation of policies and success in resettling Ex-Servicemen, widows, disabled personnel invalidated out from the Service and their dependents.
At the State level, the resettlement and welfare of Ex-Servicemen is usually controlled by the Sainik Welfare Department of State Govt. and the Secretary of the Sainik Welfare Deptt. oversees the work of Deptt. of Sainik Welfare. The Deptts of Sainik Welfare exercise general control and supervision over the Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSW/ZSB).
The Chief Minister of the State is the Chairman of the Rajya Sainik Board in the State and Collector/District Magistrate is the Chairman of the Zila Sainik Board. The Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSW/ZSB) are established in districts which have population more than 7,500 of Ex-Servicemen, widows, dependents and families of serving defence personnel left behind. However, in certain districts in remote/hilly areas, the population limitation of minimum of 7500 are waived as stipulated in the rules.
Role and Responsibilities of Zila Sainik Board as published in the official website of Kendriya Sainik Board –
- Disseminating information to the general public regarding the Armed Forces in the country and constantly endeavoring to promote and maintain a feeling of goodwill between civilian population, service personnel and Ex-Servicemen.
- Monitoring the welfare of families of servicemen and Ex-Servicemen and assisting them in representing their cases with local administration or Defence authorities. Welfare organizers employed in each ZSWO / RSB play a crucial role in establishing contact with the clientele in their homes, listing their problems, needs and aspirations, providing in-puts on these to ZSWO / RSB, resolving these, and spreading awareness of the resettlement and welfare measures in place which they can avail-of.
- Giving information to general public regarding the conditions of service in the Armed Forces and to assist intending candidates in approaching the appropriate recruiting authorities for purposes of enlistment.
- Keeping a watch on the adequacy of the number of pension paying offices / branch post offices paying pension.
- Scrutinizing applications for relief from various military and civil charitable funds and making suitable recommendations.
- Granting financial relief to Ex-Servicemen and their dependents from funds at their disposal and recommending cases of ESM and their dependents for financial assistance from KSB.
The welfare responsibilities of Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSWOs) will encompass all such traditional activities which were already being performed by these offices with particular reference to the following
- Settlement of financial problems such as pension and other retirement / release benefits / dues to Ex-Servicemen and grants and assistance in kind to Ex-Servicemen beneficiaries and dependents from the Central / State Govts or other Organizations such as the Indian Red Cross Society etc.
- Providing assistance for settlement of land and other disputes.
- Assist families of serving personnel staying separately during their absence away on duty.
- Promote and maintain under guidance of the State Rajya Sainik Boards, welfare measures in the District such as Rest House for Ex-Servicemen, old age pensioners’ homes, vocational and other training facilities and hostel for children of serving defence personnel and Ex-Servicemen.
- Mobilise assistance for medical treatment in Military / Civil hospitals.
- Maintain liaison with other welfare Organizations such as the Indian Red Cross Society, NGOs and voluntary agencies to enhance additional sources of welfare and concessions for Ex-Servicemen and their families / dependents in the Districts.
- Maintain an Up Todate register of war widows, dependents and those disabled in action with a view to ensure their welfare.
- To represent KSB, Ministry of Defence (Govt of India) in Court Cases under their jurisdiction in which these Organizations have been made respondent.
- Provide Ex-Servicemen and family pensioners information about Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
- Ensure that their ZSBs are duly inspected by the Director, RSB every year.
The responsibilities of the Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSWOs) / Rajya Sainik Boards (ZSBs) with regard to resettlement of ESM are:
- To maintain close and effective liaison for purpose of resettlement through employment of Ex-Servicemen with :
- Local Central / State / private industrial organization.
- Local employment exchange particularly in States where it has cosponsoring powers for reemployment of Ex-Servicemen.
- Local revenue authorities in connection with schemes for resettlement on land of ESM.
- District Industries / Block Development Offices and assisting those Ex-Servicemen desirous of setting up small scale industries.
- Assist Ex-Servicemen in forming and setting up cooperatives for their self employment.
- Provide all resettlement assistance to war widows, dependents and war disabled as well as to those who died / disabled while in service due to attributable reasons.
- Assist Ex-Servicemen in preparing of project reports for self-employment ventures and in obtaining loans under DGR resettlement schemes.
The other functions and responsibilities of Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSWOs) / Rajya Sainik Boards (ZSBs)areas follows:
- Organize Armed Forces Flag Day under aegis of the President ZSB (District Collector) and Flag Day collections and any other authorized fund raising measures in the district.
- Organize rallies / reunion of Ex-Servicemen. Organize welfare meetings with President ZSB to resolve problems of Ex-Servicemen and widows, preferably once each month on a fixed day.
- Explore avenues for providing educational & vocational training facilities for Ex-Servicemen and their dependents to enable them to seek employment or set up self employment venture.
- Assist three Services whenever called upon to do so to disseminate information within the district regarding terms and conditions of service in the Armed Forces. Provide publicity for recruitment notice and for assistance rendered by the Armed Forces in times of national calamities. Publicize notification of awards of gallantry and other decorations, introduction of welfare schemes of service personnel and their families.
Know more about the Welfare schemes for Exservicemen in our website. You may get a Class-V Army Vehicles from Indian Army.
Outreach Karyakaram for ESM.
In order to get first hand assessment of challengesand socio-economic conditions of the ESM, especially those staying in remote/hilly/borderareas, outreach Karyakarams are being regularly conducted. This include an interactionwiththe ESM fraternity, ascertaining well being in general, pension issues and other specificproblems being faced by them alongwith felicitations of ESM/Veer Naris. As a part of “Azadi
Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations, an Outreach Karyakaram was also organisedat Haldwani,Uttarakhand on 14 Jul 22, which was graced by Hon’ble RRM ShriAjay Bhatt. Morethan1000ESM and their dependents participated in the event. In addition, in last three months, RajyaSainik Board (RSB)/ State Managing Committee(SMC) meetings have been conductedinvarious states. It is a constant endeavour at KSB to improve and safeguard thewell beingofour precious ESM fraternity
Short Service Commissioned Officers are also Ex-serviceman.
As per DoPT Notificationdated13thFebruary, 2020, Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) released fromServiceafter completing initial terms of engagement other than by way of dismissal or dischargeonaccount of misconduct or inefficiency and have been given gratuity shall be eligible for the status of Ex-Servicemen.