Welfare of soldiers, both serving and retired, is thus, a key focus area for the Army. Constant endeavours are made”¦
The empanelled hospitals enable retired personnel to avail medical cover without having to travel long distances from their place of residence, especially when their condition is serious or critical. ECHS has, more or less been able to meet the aspirations of the retired fraternity in providing medical cover. Present statistics shows that 92 percent of the beneficiaries are treated in polyclinics, three percent in service hospitals and five percent in empanelled hospitals, indicating that the basic concept on which the scheme is based is sound and pragmatic.
Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO). AWPO has been helping retired Army Officers and JCOs/OR in finding suitable second career prospects post retirement since April 1999. It maintains a large data bank of veterans from the Army and provides a single point contact to Government agencies and the corporate world in facilitating a second career for the veterans. There are a total of 13 Army Placement Nodes and 46 Satellite Nodes spread all across the country. Almost 40 percent of the ex-servicemen register with the AWPO after retirement and it has been possible to find placement for nearly 50 percent of those registered with it.
Management of Human Capital in the Army is an extremely complex issue, given its size, spread and diversity. The enormity of the task is compounded by the fact that apart from the over 1.2 million strong serving soldiers in its rank and file, it has to also manage the issues related to over 2.2 million of its veterans.
Welfare Schemes. A number of welfare schemes have been instituted by the Adjutant General’s Branch for battle and physical casualties including financial assistance to serving and retired soldiers, educational concession to children of battle and physical casualties. Welfare of soldiers, both serving and retired, is thus, a key focus area for the Army. Constant endeavours are made to ensure that our veterans, Veer Naris and their dependents get their dues and lead a life of dignity and honour in society. Some of the important welfare schemes include the following:-
- One Time Grant. Martyrs who had laid down their lives since Independence and war disabled soldiers who were invalidated out of service due to the disability sustained by them in various operations were paid Rs. One lakh each by the Army as a one time grant.
- Mobility Equipment Grant. All Soldiers who were disabled while in service have been provided with mobility equipment grant.
- Immediate Financial Relief to NoKs. Immediate financial assistance of Rs. 30,000 is provided to the NOKs of all soldiers who die in harness, to meet immediate requirements. For physical casualties who are not entitled Central Government Ex-gratia, this amount has been enhanced to Rs One lakh.
- Educational Scholarship. Educational scholarships are given to children of martyrs and soldiers who die in harness, as also war disabled soldiers and serving soldiers.
Welfare Institutions. Apart from the various welfare schemes numerous welfare institutions have been established all across the country. The Adjutant General’s Branch monitors their activities through various Command Headquarters. Some of the important welfare institutions are:-
- Queen Mary’s Technical Institute, Pune. This institute carries out rehabilitation training of disabled servicemen and their dependents. It provides courses for rehabilitation as a fitter, electrician, motor mechanic, welders, diesel mechanic, tailoring, fashion design and Info Tech worker.
- St Dunstan’s After Care Organization, Dehra Dun. This institution has been established for rehabilitation of vision impaired Service personnel. Training for the inmates of this institute is provided at the ‘National Institute for Visually Impaired’ for orientation and mobility.
- Paraplegic Homes, Kirkee and Mohali. These have been established for paraplegic and tetraplegic ex-servicemen.
- Asha Schools. A total of 29 Asha Schools have been established across the country at various military stations and caters for differently abled children.
- War Widows’ Children Hostel. These hostels have been established at selected stations for children of war widows.
Conclusion
| Also read: |
Management of Human Capital in the Army is an extremely complex issue, given its size, spread and diversity. The enormity of the task is compounded by the fact that apart from the over 1.2 million strong serving soldiers in its rank and file, it has to also manage the issues related to over 2.2 million of its veterans. The key ingredient in the organization despite all the technological upgrades still remains the soldier, who is the man behind the weapon and the enabler of its strategy. It is therefore, vital that adequate care be taken to ensure that the morale and aspiration of the solider be maintained at the highest level at all times.
Being the last bastion, the Nation invariably looks towards the Army with a lot of expectation, not only for safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also at the times of internal strife and during the hours of crisis. If the soldier is to stay motivated and is expected to give his best when the situation so demands, it is imperative that both the Government and the Army makes conscious efforts to ensure that the basic needs and aspirations of the soldier are met at all times. The Adjutant General’s Branch is chartered with the onerous responsibility of managing the Human Capital in the Army. Being conscious of the enormity of the task that it has on its hand, it has adopted various time tested mechanisms to deal with the related issues in a pragmatic and responsive manner, while at the same time ensuring that the process is evolutionary and undergoes constant refinement to cater for changing individual aspirations and societal changes.
Please wait...
