ECHS Contribution – Pension wise ECHS Contribution Details

Reduction of delay in processing of pension cases on SPARSH for Defence Civilian and their families

ECHS Contribution: All Ex-Servicemen who are drawing pension from Controller of Defence Accounts and who have retired prior to 01 Jan 1996 are exempted from payment of contribution under Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.

    CONTRIBUTION

    1. ECHS is a contributory scheme. On retirement, each pensioner (wef. 01 Apr 03) will compulsorily become a member of ECHS by contributing his/her share and the scheme would be applicable for life time.

    2. Similarly, ex-servicemen pensioners who have already retired on or prior to 31 Mar 03 can voluntarily become members, by paying a one time contribution. The contribution will be according to the table given below:-

    Revised Pension/Family Pension (Uncommuted Basic Pension + Dearness Pension) (Rupees per month)

    Contribution (In Rupees)

    Upto Rs.3000/- Rs.1800/-
    Rs.3001/- to Rs.6000/- Rs.4800/-
    Rs.6001/- to Rs.10000/- Rs.8400/-
    Rs.10001/- to Rs.15000/- Rs.12000/-
    Rs.15001/- and above Rs.18000/-

     

    3. Contribution to be paid by the Widows of the service personnel whose death is attributable to Military Service, will be based on the amount of the basic pension they will be drawing at a later date and not on the enhanced family pension they are initially granted.

    4. All Ex-Servicemen who are drawing pension from Controller of Defence Accounts and who have retired prior to 01 Jan 1996 are exempted from payment of contribution under Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. However, they will continue to apply for membership. All documents except MRO will be submitted along with application form.

    5. The following categories of liberalised family pensioners have also been exempted from paying the one time contribution for ECHS membership:-

    (a) War Widows.

    (b) “Spouse/Husband” of a deceased woman Officer/PBOR covered by actions in category “D” or “E” as appended below:-

    (i) Category `D’. Death due to acts of violence/attack by terrorists, antisocial elements, etc whether on duty other than operational duty or even when not on duty. Bomb blasts in public, etc. would be covered under this category, besides death/disability occurring while employed in the aid of civil power in dealing with natural calamities.

    (ii) Category `E’. Death arising as a result of :-

    (aa) Enemy action in international war.

    (ab) Action during deployment with a peace keeping mission abroad.

    (ac) Border skirmishes.

    (ad) During laying or clearance of mines including enemy mines as also minesweeping operations.

    (ae) On account of accidental explosions of mines while laying operationally oriented mine-field or lifting or negotiating mine-field laid; the enemy or own forces in operational areas near international borders or the line of control.

    (af) War like situations, including cases which are attributable to/aggravated by:-

    (aaa) Extremist acts, exploding mines etc, while on way to an operational area.

    (aab) Battle inoculation training exercises or demonstration with live ammunition.

    (aac) Kidnapping by extremists while on operational duty.

    (ag) An act of violence/attack by extremists, antisocial elements etc while on operational duty.

    (ah) Action against extremists, antisocial elements, etc. Death while employed in the aid of civil power in quelling agitation riots by demonstrators will be covered under this category.

    (aj) Operations specially notified by the Govt from time to time.

    (c) “Parents, ie, mother & father” of unmarried deceased soldier, provided they are in receipt of Liberalised Family Pension.

    (d) In case parents at 4 (c) above are deceased, then “NOK” of unmarried deceased soldier, provided he/she are in receipt of Liberalised Family Pension.

    5. In the case of 4 (a) & (b), dependant children of the married deceased soldier are also covered by the ECHS, subject to age/marriage and other conditions of eligibility. In case of Paras 4 (c) & (d) above, children or dependants of the individuals listed thereat are NOT entitled to ECHS eligibility, since the deceased soldier was unmarried.

    6. War disabled pensioners who have sustained disability under above conditions have also been exempted from payment of contribution for ECHS membership

    Documents to be submitted for seeking Exemption from Contribution

    7. ESM seeking exemption of contribution/refund of contribution must submit the following documents to establish proof of disability having been sustained in operations:-

    (a) Army

    (i) Officers

    (aa) Battle casualty report issued by MP 5/6 (erstwhile Org 3) AG’s Branch, Army HQ.

    (ab) PPO. The following details will be checked:-

    (aaa) PPO of M/DIS series.

    (aab) The details of injury sustained by the ESM in an Operation/War should be mentioned in the main text of the PPO on account of which he is receiving the disability pension.

    (ii) PBOR

    (aa) Battle casualty endorsed at Part VI of the discharge book.

    (ab) PPO. The PPO should be of D/BC Series.

    (b) Air Force

    (i) Officers. The War disabled pensioner will be certified by DPP&R.

    (ii) PBOR. The War disabled pensioner will be certified by AFRO.

    (c) Navy

    (i) Officers. The War disabled pensioner will be certified by PDOP.

    (ii) PBOR. The War disabled pensioner will be certified by CABS.

    Source: ECHS Handbook released by Air Force Hqrs, New Delhi