Assuring Dignity in Death to Ex-Servicemen and Widows

New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) In a global first, the Indian Army is set to launch a scheme seeking to ensure an honourable and befitting funeral for its deceased ex-servicemen and their widows.

The 'Assured Decent Last Rites (ADLR) Scheme' -- spreading the message that the Indian Army cares for its veterans -- is to be inaugurated by the Adjutant General Lt Gen AS Jamwal in Delhi Cantonment tomorrow.

The ADLR Scheme envisages having an organisation at each Army Canteen where veterans are attached. It will be manned by a selected field staff comprising of a Welfare Officer and Field officers.

On intimation of the death of a veteran or his widow, the field staff will move to his residence, contact the family members and provide on-the-spot assistance required by the family and also organise the last rites, if required, said an official spokesman here.

The field staff will also inform other veterans in the area about the time and place of the last rites and assist the family in organising a decent funeral and lay a wreath on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff.

The scheme will be primarily financed and executed by the CSD canteen where the deceased veteran was dependant. To implement the scheme, an organisation will be formulated at all Station Headquarters-level. The size of such organisation will depend upon the size of the veterans-population living in the area.

For quick dissemination of information, the organisation will be assisted by the Army and NCC units, the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics and voluntary veterans' organisations in the area.

The spokesman said the scheme will be implemented in two phases -- with Delhi, Chennai and Lucknow being covered in the First Phase. The remaining parts of the country would be brought under the scheme in the Second Phase.

All willing veterans, including Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Other Ranks (ORs) and their widows holding valid canteen cards would be eligible for the ADLR Scheme under which a grant of upto Rs 2,500 would be provided on-the-spot to the next-of-kin for organising last rites.

In the absence of next-of-kin or on the request of the family, the field staff will take responsibility for organising the last rites themselves.

The spokesman further clarified that this grant will not be linked to the existing 'Demise Grant' of Rs 3000 which will continue to be claimed as per existing orders on the subject.

UNI DG RR KN1602