Q1.     Are Ex-servicemen entitled to medical facilities apart from the existing system ? Is there any proposal to provide medical cover to ex-servicemen and if so what is the proposal ?  

Army HQ have formulated an Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and the proposal has been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence for approval.   The ECHS has been formulated based on the inputs received from Central Govt Health Scheme (CGHS), Railways Health Scheme and from several retired officers. 

The proposal is under active consideration by the Govt. Once the approval is accorded, the details will be intimated to the environment.

Q 2.     Whether disabled soldiers (BC) invalided /boarded out of service due to frost bite during military operations from 15 Aug 47 to 30 Apr 99 are eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF ?

Yes, disabled soldiers (BC) invalided /boarded out of service due to frost bite during military operations from 15 Aug 47 to 30 Apr 99 are eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF.

Q 3.     Are disabled soldiers (BC) unwilling to continue in alternate sheltered appointment, eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF?

No, disabled soldiers (BC) unwilling to continue in alternate sheltered appointment are not eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF.

Q 4.     Whether disabled soldiers (BC) who sustained injury during various military operations between 15 Aug 47 and 30 Apr 99 and released on completion of their normal terms of service, are eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF?  

Disabled soldiers (BC) who sustained injury during various military operations between 15 Aug 47 and 30 Apr 99 and released on completion of their terms of service are not eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF.

Q 5.    Whether disabled soldiers (BC) who sustained injury during various military operations between 15 Aug 47 and 30 Apr 99 and subsequently released from service on own request, are eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF ?

Disabled soldiers (BC) who sustained injury during various military operations between 15 Aug 47 and 30 Apr 99 and subsequently released from service on own request, are not eligible for financial assistance out of ACWF.  

Q6.     What documents are required for release of financial assistance out of ACWF ? 

           The following documents are required for release of financial assistance out of ACWF :- 

(a)    Copy of AFMSF - 16 (Medical Board Proceedings).

(b)    Copy of BC Part II order.If BC Part II Order is not available then extract of Sheet Roll, where  wounded in action/BC part II order is recorded.

(c)    Extract of Sheet Roll, where date of enrolment and boarded out of service are recorded. 

(d)    In case of NOK/Widows of deceased disabled soldiers, Aliveness Certificate, duly authenticated by the manager of the  bank from which  pension is being received, duly   countersigned by concerned Regimental Record Office.

Q 7.    Is there any financial benefit entitled to parents of disabled soldiers (BC) out of National Defence Fund?

            No benefits are entitled to the parents of disabled soldiers (BC), out of NDF.  

Q 8.     Are the widows of martyrs eligible for Children Educational Grant out of NDF in respect of their children borne from the second marriage ?

War Widows who have remarried are not eligible for Children Educational Grant from NDF in respect of children borne out of second marriage.

Q 9.    Can the unutilised grant out of NDF for dwelling unit be paid to the NOK/disabled soldiers invalided out ?

NOK or invalided out disabled soldiers are not entitled to unutilised balance of the grant sanctioned out of NDF for dwelling units.

Q 10.    Whether personnel wounded during Kargil War and released under Release Med Board (RMB) , are eligible for NDF package ? 

            No such personnel are not eligible for NDF package.

Q 11.     Whether Children Educational Grant from NDF are applicable to the Children born after Kargil War to the persons invalided out of service ?

The only children, whose names were notified in part - II order before Release Medical   Board, are eligible for the Grant.

Q 12.     What are the eligibility criteria for availing grants out of ACWF?

The    eligibility   criteria    for    availing    grants    out of ACWF are as follows :-

(a)    Ex-gratia   of Rs 50,000/-is entitled to living NOK of battle casualties as established at the time of occurrence of casualty. 

(b)    In cases where pension is divided between widow and parents, the widow will be paid the entire amount of Ex-gratia.

(c)    A widow who has remarried, is also entitled to the ex gratia grant.

(d)    In case of unmarried deceased soldiers, if one of the parents nominated as NOK is no longer alive, the other parent   automatically becomes eligible for the grant.   This can not be   passed down further to legal heirs.

Q 13.   When should I register   for seeking employment at Army Placement Agency (APA)?

One can register in the last year of service before retirement.   Officers should preferably register about three months prior to retirement and personnel below officers rank at the time of release drill.  This ensures their availability for interview and   selection for complete period of two years after retirement.

Q 14.    Where do I register for seeking employment after retirement?

All ranks should preferably register at the node which is close to their place of preference or where they are ultimately settling after retirement and wish to seek a job near that area.

Q 15.    Will I get a call letter automatically ?

Names of suitable candidates with their address and phone numbers, wherever available, are sent to the prospective employers based on their requirements.   The final selection is done by the employer, who then sends a call letter to the individual or contacts on telephone.   A copy of sponsoring letter is usually endorsed to the individuals.

Q 16.    Will I be sponsored again ?

APA expect all individuals who are sponsored and called for interviews or selections to give a feed back.   In case you do not receive any intimation from the prospective employers within 15-20 days after your name has been sponsored,   you should contact APA on phone, to check progress and to sponsor you again.  If you are not selected during interview, a feed back should be given for   re-sponsoring your name.   Those who do not give a feed back are   unlikely to be sponsored again.

Q 17.    Do my skills and professional competence fit in the job requirements of the corporate sector ?

There are many areas of the Corporate Organisation, where officers can fit in.   However this depends on howthe resume is   prepared and what work experiences are highlighted.   Officers should be able to suitably reflect their leadership and inter personal skills,   managerial and administrative ability in their resume/CVs.    Personnel below officers rank should specify their competence & skill in the data sheet.   However it   should also be understood that skills such as driving army vehs is not a competence to drive latest, modern cars available In the corporate/business world.   Similarly clerical skills without computer literacy has little use in the civil.   These should be suitably enhanced before retirement in order to fit in the civil jobs.

Q 18.    How much salary can I expect ?

Salary expectations should be related to the market trends, place and your own capabilities viz a viz the younger age personnel from   civil who have required civil qualifications and experience.   Salary also differs from place to place and is comparatively higher in metropolitan cities.   Many ex-servicemen did not get jobs or had to   quit jobs due   to higher  expectation of salary.

Q 19.    If I leave the job after being sponsored by APA, can I seek APA's assistance again ?

It will be appreciated that every retiring person has to be given an opportunity for a job.   Hence it is not possible to keep sponsoring those who have been successfully placed once.