ECHS facility to non-pensioners irks SSC officers

New Delhi: At a time when the country is gripped with patriotic fervour after the Pulwama attack, former Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCO) are feeling betrayed by the recent government decision to extend the facility of  Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to non-pensioners.

ECHS facility is currently not allowed to non-pensioners like Short Service Commis-sioned Officers.

However, the Cabinet earlier this month had approved the grant of ECHS facilities to World War-II veterans, Emergency Commissioned Officers, Short Service Commissioned Officers and premature retirees.

ECHS allows ex-serviceman to get cashless medical treatment through a network of over 425 ECHS polyclinics, 2,500 empanelled private hospitals and all government
hospitals throughout the country.

But, according to notification later on issued by the defence ministry, for treatment in empanelled hospitals, former Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCO) will first have to pay for the treatment and later on file for reimbursement of the cost of the treatment. Centre will reimburse 75 per cent of the “admissible expenditure” to those SSCO having service of over 10 years and 50 per cent to those who had less than 10 years in service.

“With this condition the scheme does not remain cashless as declared in during a press briefing by the government,” said Major S.S. Yadav (Retd), secretary North, All India Short Service Commissioned Officers Welfare Association (AISSCOA).

He said SSCO released in 1971 with five years in service had got a gratuity of Rs 5,000 and officers released in 1976 after 10 years service got Rs 10,000 as gratuity.