Responsibilities of Zila Sainik Welfare Offices / Zila Sainik Board

Responsibilities of Zila Sainik Welfare Offices / Zila 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.