The Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) Scheme provides financial assistance to children of Ex-Servicemen. Learn more here.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Government of India, has introduced the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) Scheme. This scheme aims to provide financial support to Ex-Servicemen and their widows to assist in the education of their children. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the RMEWF Scheme.
Objective of the RMEWF Scheme
The objective of the Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) Scheme is to extend financial aid to a maximum of two dependent children of Ex-Servicemen or their widows, up to the rank of Havildar in the Army or equivalent in the Navy and Air Force. Additionally, financial assistance is provided to widows pursuing post-graduation degrees.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for availing financial assistance under this scheme are as follows:
- The applicant must be an Ex-Serviceman (ESM), widow, or orphan dependent.
- The applicant should hold a rank of Havildar/equivalent or below.
- The scheme is applicable for classes 1 to 12 of school and undergraduate classes in a degree college.
- Widows who wish to pursue a 2-year post-graduate degree are also eligible for the grant.
- The ward/widow must successfully complete the course.
- The applicant should not be receiving education allowance or similar benefits from the state or employer.
- The scheme is eligible for the first two children. In the case of twin children, specific conditions apply:
- If the 1st and 2nd children are twins, only the twins will be eligible as a maximum of two children are permitted.
- If the 2nd and 3rd children are twins, all three children will be eligible for education financial assistance along with the 1st child. Thus, the ESM can avail benefits for three children subject to the fulfillment of the mentioned criteria.
In the unfortunate event of the demise of the 1st or 2nd child, the 2nd and 3rd children mentioned in the discharge book will be eligible. Similarly, in the case of the demise of the 2nd child, the 3rd child mentioned in the discharge book will be eligible. The death certificate will be uploaded as a supporting document with the online application for scrutiny.
Financial Assistance Details – RMEWF Scheme
The Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) Scheme provides financial assistance for education from the Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Fund. Eligible Ex-Servicemen and their widows receive ₹ 1000 per month per child (up to a maximum of two children).
The fund for the previous academic year is paid in a single installment within the financial year. This grant is applicable for students in classes 1 to 12 of school and undergraduate classes in college. It is also available to widows pursuing a 2-year postgraduate degree.
Documents Required
Documents required for financial assistance for education of children & widows of for Ex-Servicemen, the required documents for the Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) are as follows:
- Service Document for Discharge Book of Ex-serviceman (ESM) containing ESM/Personal Particulars, Service Particulars, and Family Particulars.
- ESM or Widow I-Card issued by the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Offices (ZSB).
- Mark-sheet or School Progress Card of children.
- Part-II Order stating the names of the children for which the fund is sought, or a correct entry in the discharge documents.
- A certificate from the applicant stating that they have not received any grant from the State Government or present employer in the form of education allowance or scholarship.
- Details of the bank account number (in Punjab National Bank and State Bank of India only) and IFS Code.
- Copy of Aadhar Card.
Submit an Application – RMEWF Scheme
The applicant is required to complete and submit a designated application form online, along with verified copies of the necessary documents attested by the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO).
A sample application form is provided for reference. The application for the recently concluded academic year must be submitted online by eligible Ex-Servicemen or their widows to the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Office (ZSB). The submission period starts in May for classes 1st to 9th and 11th, and in July for board classes 10th and 12th. For undergraduate courses (non-technical and non-professional), applications must be submitted from August.
The Zila Sainik Welfare Office (ZSWO) will review the online applications, schedule an appointment with the applicant, verify the information, recommend the online application, and forward it via the Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) to the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) Secretariat for approval and payment within the current financial year.
The cutoff date for all categories is November of the financial year, and cases older than one year will not be accepted.
Application Procedure – RMEWF Scheme
Eligible Ex-servicemen or their widows can access the official website of Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat at https://ksb.gov.in/. Click on the ‘Register’ option provided on the homepage of the portal. Fill in the necessary details in the displayed registration form and upload a photo. Save the application by clicking the ‘Save’ button, and the saved details and password will be sent to the registered email address. Click on the activation link received in the email to log in to the KSB portal. Enter your username, password, and verification code, and click on the ‘Login’ button. Select the scheme name and start filling the new application form by providing the required information. Upload attested copies of supporting documents as per the guidelines of the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO). Once the online application is submitted, the ZSWO will review the applications and schedule an appointment with the applicant for verification. After successful verification, the ZSWO will recommend the online application and forward both a hard copy and a soft copy to the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) through the Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) for further processing.
Processing at KSB Secretariat:
Upon receiving the application at the Kendriya Sainik Board, the section-in-charge will verify and upload the printed list for approval by the JD (Welfare). Approved applications will then be submitted for sanction by the competent authority, preferably in batches every quarter.
Payment Procedure:
Once the submitted applications are approved, the Welfare department will process the payment of the grant in batches of 200 applications. After verifying the service number, name, bankers, IFS Code, and account number, the Welfare department will forward the batch list to the Accounts Section for payment, which will be made directly via the Electronic Clearing System (ECS).
Subsequent Grant:
For each subsequent academic year, a fresh application must be submitted if the child(ren) has/have satisfactorily progressed to the next class. The subsequent application should also be submitted through the ZSB in May. The ZSB will forward all the applications online to the Kendriya Sainik Board Secretariat each year for consideration in the current financial year.
Track Application Status:
Applicants can revisit the same portal at https://ksb.gov.in/index.htm and click on the ‘Status of application’ link on the homepage. Enter the DAK ID and verification code, and click the ‘Search’ button to track the application status.
Application Processing at Kendriya Sainik Board
- Applications received at Kendriya Sainik Board will undergo online verification.
- The Section-in Charge will assign the file to a designated clerk for data entry.
- Another clerk will verify the entries and eligibility of applicants.
- Section-in-Charge will review the application and recommend them to JD (Welfare) online.
- Applications related to AFFDF will be forwarded for approval by the prescribed authority on a quarterly basis.
Payment Procedure _ RMEWF Scheme
- Approved applications will be processed for payment by the Welfare Section.
- The Welfare Section will verify details such as name, service number, bankers, IFS Code, and account number.
- The approved applications will be forwarded to the Accounts Section for payment.
- Payments will be released to the beneficiaries via ECS (Electronic Clearing System).
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FAQs
Are ex-servicemen eligible for children education allowance?
Children Education Allowance (CEA) is available for serving Central Government employees, including defense personnel. This article will guide you on how to apply for CEA after retirement. Ex-servicemen from the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) are eligible for the Children Education Grant.
What is the education scholarship for ex-servicemen children?
The Scheme was implemented in 2006, providing a total of 5,500 scholarships each year. The scholarship amount is ₹ 2,000/- per month for boys and ₹ 2,250/- per month for girls, paid annually.
What is financial assistance for vocational training of widows of ex-servicemen?
The RMEWF-Financial Assistance for Vocational Training of Widows of Ex-Servicemen is a scheme aimed at providing financial support to widows of Ex-Servicemen for vocational training, enabling them to establish a stable livelihood. Based on their education and interests, they can choose to pursue the necessary vocational training.
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