Policy Update
Aditi Bisht
Background
When a husband dies due to an accident, natural causes or illness, widows of ex-servicemen (ESM) are left in financial distress and social isolation. To support these women, RMEWF launched a scheme in August 2023 to provide financial assistance for vocational training. This scheme under the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) is for widows of ESM up to the rank of Havildar or equivalent in the Army, Navy or Air Force.
The scheme aims to empower widows by giving them skills for employment based on their education and interest. Eligible widows can train at recognised institutions like Rajya Sainik Board (RSB)/Zila Sainik Board (ZSB), state-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) or reputed private institutions like NIIT. The scheme addresses the need of financial independence and rehabilitation with a time grant of up to Rs. 50,000 disbursed after completion of the training.
Present Scheme:
RMEWF provides one time financial grant of up to Rs. 50,000 to widows of ESM (up to Havildar or equivalent rank) who complete vocational training at recognized institutions. This aid is funded by AFFDF and is for skill development to help widows get employment and self reliance. The grant is disbursed after verification of successful course completion by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) through the respective Zila Sainik Welfare Office (ZSWO).
Number of Beneficiaries and Amount Disbursed:
The following is the number of beneficiaries and amount disbursed under the RMEWF Vocational Training Scheme for widows of ESM over the last three years:
(Source: Department of EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE)
Functioning
The RMEWF Vocational Training Scheme, launched in August 2023 under the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, gives a one-time grant of Rs. 50,000 to widows of ex-servicemen (up to Havildar rank) after they complete vocational training from recognised institutes like ITIs or NIIT. Widows apply through the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) portal by registering, filling in details, uploading a photo and submitting documents like the ex-serviceman’s death certificate and training enrollment proof, attested by Zila Sainik Welfare Officers (ZSWOs). ZSWOs verify applications in person and send them to KSB through Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs).
At KSB, the Section-in-charge reviews applications, prepares a list for Joint Director (Welfare) approval and sends it to the competent authority for quarterly sanction. After approval, the Welfare Department verifies bank details (service number, account number, IFSC code) and sends a batch list to the Accounts Section which disburses funds through Electronic Clearing System (ECS). Applicants can track their status on the KSB portal using their DAK ID.
Performance
In 2021-22, the scheme supported 20 widows with a total of Rs. 4.00 lakh as per DESW records. In 2022-23, it supported 20 widows with the same amount of Rs. 4.00 lakh. In 2023-24, the scheme expanded slightly and supported 25 widows with Rs. 7.70 lakh as per DESW. This translates to an average of about Rs. 30,800 per widow, still below the maximum Rs. 50,000 grant, possibly due to variation in training program costs or partial disbursements.
In total, the scheme has supported 65 widows with Rs. 15.70 lakh over the three years.
Servicemen aims to empower widows of ex-servicemen (up to Havildar rank) by funding vocational training to get skills and get jobs, and be financially independent. Launched under the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund, the scheme provides one time grant of Rs. 50,000 on training completion from recognised institutes like ITIs or NIIT. But the impact of the scheme is difficult to measure as there is no data.
The scheme’s main objective is to get employment for widows, but no data confirms whether these 65 widows got employment or financial stability. The DESW policy document states the scheme will support employment through training, but there is no report on outcomes like job placement rates or income improvement. Without this data, it’s unclear if the training led to sustainable livelihoods or social status for widows.
Emerging issues
Low Beneficiary Reach: This scheme has benefited a total of 65 widows in three years: 20 in 2021-22, 20 in 2022-23, and 25 in 2023-24. This appears to be a very small number against possibly thousands of eligible widows, suggesting that many widows either do not know about the program or cannot access it.
Suggestions:
KSB: Awareness on radio, local newspaper, and social media for rural widows should be created. Veterans groups should be roped in for the same.
ZSBs: Visit villages and inform widows of the scheme, including its application procedure.
Widows: Ask ZSBs or local ex-servicemen’s groups about the grant.
Training Institutes: Advertise the scheme during enrollment so as to attract eligible widows.
Complex Online Application Procedure: Issue: To apply, an online registration on the KSB portal has to be done, documents uploaded, followed by ZSWO attestation. This may get difficult for the widows without internet or computer skills, especially in rural areas. There is no data to attest to this as a barrier, but it surely points out that it could limit access.
Suggestions:
Transparency: there should be a transparent and systematic tracker of employment outcomes and career progression of beneficiaries beyond the completion of training
MoD/KSB: Accept paper cases at ZSB offices with further training of staff to help widows with online forms.
ZSBs: Establish help desks to support widows through the portal and document
Way Forward
The intent is crystal-clear: equip widows with the necessary skills to get jobs and become independent. This scheme targets a vulnerable section of society, widows of ex-servicemen who are usually in financial hardship and social isolation after the demise of their husbands. These training programs are conceived to provide economic benefit to widows and also grant them social acceptance. From 2021-22 till 2023-24, it has imparted its benefits to 65 widows with Rs. 15.70 lakh, reports the DESW. The results of the scheme have become difficult to assess. There is no data on whether these 65 widows had somehow managed to acquire jobs and become financially independent after the training.
DESW says that the scheme is supposed to lead to employment, but in the absence of reports concerning job placements or changes in income, it is impossible to see just how much they really impact the change of life. To go further, the Ministry of Defence, together with KSB, should launch publicity campaigns on the radio, in village newspapers, and over social media to inform at least one section of rural widows.
Veterans’ associations could also get involved in the dissemination. ZSBs should pay a visit to villages to describe the scheme and set up help desks to guide widows through the application process, especially if they cannot use the online portal. It would help even more if paper applications were accepted at ZSB offices.
References
RMEWF-Financial assistance for vocational training of widows of ESM | Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare | Ministry of Defence | Government of India https://share.google/DPv3BHok3FXZDAqMT
RMEWF-Financial Assistance For Vocational Training Of Widows Of Ex-Servicemen https://share.google/mGsgWPIJXutC09vb6
About the Contributor
Aditi Bisht is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS). Her research interests lie in government policy and economics
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
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