FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ORPHAN CHILDREN OF ESM
Background
The Armed Forces personnel by virtue of isolation imposed by service conditions generally remain cut off from society. Some of them get married after their release from service, and consequently have children at a late stage in life. In the unfortunate event
of the demise of both ESM and his spouse in an accident or due to natural causes/disease, the young offspring is left orphaned. Most of time, orphaned child is neglected by his/her relatives and is financially handicapped. The problem is more pronounced in
the case of orphans of non pensioner ESM. In such a case, it is responsibility of the organization to support such orphans and ensure their education-cum-settlement. This scheme to provide financial assistance to the orphaned children of ESM was started in
May 2007 with an amount of Rs 500/- per month for girls and revised in Oct 2011 with Rs 1,000/-pm irrespective of child's gender. The grant has been enhanced to Rs 3,000/- pm, paid annually, for all applicants wef 01 Apr 2022.
Aim
The aim of this aid gratis is to provide a small measure of relief from total penury to an orphaned child of an ESM.
Financial Assistance
For the eligible Orphan out of AFFDF is provided at a rate of Rs.3,000/- per month, paid annually, during the financial year.
Eligibility Conditions
The following criteria must be fulfilled:-
- (a) Applicant must be a legitimate offspring of an ESM. Entry in Service Book should reflect details of the child of ESM.
- (b) Orphan should be aged below 21 years for son or unmarried daughter.
- (c) Should be recommended by respective Zila Sainik Board (ZSB).
Application
Application should be made to the KSB Sectt with recommendation of the concerned Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO) on it. A specimen application format is placed at Annexure 1 to this scheme-document. Copies of following documents duly attested by ZSWO
must accompany the application:-
- (a) Service Discharge Book/Document (must have entry regarding child).
- (b) Death certificate of both parents.
- (c) Dependent I Card issued by concerned ZSB.
- (d) Birth Certificate of each orphan.
- (e) Certificate from competent authority (for girl) certifying that the girl is not married.
- (f) Details of Bank A/c No and IFS Code.
Channel of Application
The application must be submitted by an eligible orphan or legal /natural guardian at his or respective ZSB. ZSWO will scrutinize the application and If found correct, will forward it (hard copy as well as in digital format) through respective RSB to the
KSB Sectt for payment.
Processing at KSB Sectt.
On receipt in the Welfare Section at KSB Sectt, the AFFDF applications will be processed for payment. The Section-in-Charge will assign these applications to a particular clerk who will enter the desired data from the applications onto computer. Another
clerk will be designated to check correctness of the entries. The Section-in-Charge will verify the same and put it up for approval to JD(Welfare). Such applications along with other cases pertaining to AFFDF will be moved for sanction of the competent authority
in one lot, preferably on quarterly basis.
Payment Procedure
After approval of the applications, the same will be processed by Welfare Section for payments. After verifying service particulars of the deceased ESM, name of orphan, bankers IFS Code and account number, the Welfare Section will forward the list to Accounts
Section. The payment will be made directly via ECS on a monthly basis.
Subsequent Grants
The Orphan Grant, once approved by the competent authority, stands for entire duration of the eligibility. But a certificate from the concerned ZSWO that the orphan girl is not married, is required to be uploaded along with Renewal Application so as to continue
the grant in the following financial year. In case of orphaned boys, the grant will cease automatically from the month following attainment of 21 years of age.