ECHS advisory committee meeting held in Jalandhar Cantt

Jalandhar, Dec 26 (UNI) To create awareness about the functioning of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), a meeting of the Advisory Committee of ECHS was held in Jalandhar Cantt today.

Giving details about the scheme, 91 Sub Area Commander Brigadier B B Patil, who presided over the meeting, said the scheme was applicable to the ex-servicemen of Armed Forces -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- and their dependents who were in receipt of any type of pension.

After becoming members by depositing one time contribution, ex-servicemen and their dependents can avail free medical treatment in empanelled private hospitals, he added.

One time contribution for ex-servicemen getting pension upto Rs 3,000 is Rs 1,800, from Rs 3,001 to Rs 6,000 is Rs 4,800, from Rs 6,001 to Rs 10,000 is Rs 8,400, Rs 10,001 to Rs 15,000 is Rs 12,000 and for the Ex-servicemen getting pension above Rs 15,001 is Rs 18,000.

However, the scheme is totally free of cost for the ex-servicemen, who have retired before April 1, 1996. The scheme is voluntary for those who have retired before Apr 1, 2003 and compulsory thereafter.

Urging the ex-servicemen to become members of this scheme, Brig Patil said closing date of the scheme was March 31, 2008 after that Ex-servicemen would neither get treatment in Military Hospitals nor through the ECHS without ECHS membership.

UNI