Policy Update
Shreya Parthiban
Background
The education of children of ex-servicemen has been a concern for a long time for both the armed forces community and the Indian government, especially in cases where the families face hardship due to service-related injuries, disabilities, or loss of life. The core objective of this scheme was to provide financial assistance to ensure the children of ex-servicemen, especially those from lower-income households or families, could continue their education without disruption. The policy was also designed to promote rehabilitation and long-term support for widows and dependents.
Introduced in 1981, the scheme started with a grant of Rs. 15 per child per month for up to three children, and covered education till XII. In October 2011, the grant was increased to Rs. 1,000/month per child, and covered a maximum of two dependent children (instead of three) and extended the eligibility of the grant was extended through undergraduate studies as well, and also to widows pursuing a two-year postgraduate degree.
This scheme was financed from the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) and is overseen by the Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) under the Ministry of Welfare. The implementation of these funds is done through the Kendriya Sainik Board and Zila Sainik Board, which handle the application processing and verification.
Functioning
The RMEWF (Raksha Mantri Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund) scheme is made to provide direct financial support for the education of children and widows of eligible Ex-Servicemen (ESM), and it functions through the following mechanisms:
- Application and Verification Process
- The eligible applications, which are the ESM, widows, or dependents, must apply online through the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) portal.
- The applications must be submitted annually, after the end of the academic year and should include the Fee receipts, Mark sheets, Bonafide certificates, and Bank details.
- The applications are to be verified and recommended at the Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) or the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) level.
- Approval and Disbursement
- After the verification, the applications are then forwarded to the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence).
- After the approval, the funds are then disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the applicant’s bank account, which is usually a one-time annual payment of Rs. 1,000 per month for the previous academic year.
- Monitoring and Oversight
- This scheme is being funded through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF), and it is monitored very closely by the Ministry of Defence.
- The Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) maintains records and periodically reviews the funds utilisation and disbursement statistics.
- Coverage and Restrictions
- Only two children per the ESM are eligible (there can be exceptions made in the case of twins or the death of one child).
- For widows, there is assistance available for postgraduate education, up to two years.
- The beneficiaries must not receive similar education assistance from any other government scheme.
The scheme’s functioning is designed to ensure a transparent, need-based, and accountable financial support to promote educational continuity. It is a multi-tiered structure (ZSB —> KSB —> Ministry) which ensures local verification with centralised disbursement.
Performance
The RMEWF educational assistance scheme has made significant improvements in supporting the academic journeys of the children and widows of the ex-servicemen from the economically weaker sections, especially those from the lower ranks. The scheme has benefited over one lakh applicants annually, with there being slight variations depending on budgetary allocations and verification processes. In recent years:
| Financial Year | Beneficiaries | Amount Disbursed (₹ Crore) |
| 2021–22 | 1,59,550 | ₹283.46 Cr |
| 2022–23 | 75,561 | ₹135.66 Cr |
| 2023–24 | 1,53,097 | ₹273.47 Cr |
(Data from Kendriya Sainik Board – Ministry of Defence)
The funds for this are usually disbursed in a single annual instalment through a Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT). The digital application and verification processes have streamlined operations, reduced delays, and enhanced transparency. As a result, there has been a significant impact on education, with many beneficiaries, particularly the children of Jawans and widows of soldiers, being able to complete their school and college education without dropping out due to financial constraints. This scheme especially enables widows to pursue postgraduate education, which helps them build independent careers after their loss.
Some of the challenges which still persist are: There are still awareness gaps which still persist in rural or remote areas about this scheme. There have also been occasional delays in application processing at the Zila Sainik Board level. Overall, the RMEWF Financial Assistance Scheme has shown strong performance by providing targeted and consistent educational support to the dependents of ex-servicemen. This helps reduce the dropout rates and encourages the academic progression in military families, and reinforces the government’s commitment to veteran welfare.
Impact
The RMEWF educational assistance scheme has had a very meaningful and far-reaching impact on the lives of ex-servicemen’s families, and especially those from the lower-income and rural parts of society. By offering financial support of Rs. 1,000 per month, the scheme has resulted in enabling thousands of children of ex-servicemen to complete school and college education without any interruption due to financial hardship. It has been especially helpful in the rural and semi-urban areas, where the opportunities are limited and the cost of education can be a barrier.
The scheme also allows the widows of ex-servicemen to pursue their postgraduate education, so that they can be financially independent and emotionally resilient. This support that scheme offers educational support and contributes to women’s empowerment and rehabilitation after the loss of a spouse, especially for war widows and widows of personnel who died in service.
The families who struggle with the loss of a breadwinner often face tough choices regarding children’s education. This scheme ensures and provides a much-needed financial relief, and helps reduce school and college dropout rates in ex-servicemen’s families. The scheme also reflects the nation’s acknowledgement of the sacrifices that were made by the soldiers and extends gratitude to their families through tangible support. It also contributes to the social security and welfare of the veterans and reinforces their sense of dignity and inclusion in the national development.
By ensuring that there is regular financial aid, the scheme fosters a culture of institutional support for the defence families and encourages a more responsible governance and veteran engagement. The impact of the RMEWF educational scheme goes beyond the financial assistance, and it uplifts the social and emotional well-being of the families who have served the nation. It empowers women and also ensures that education remains a right and not a privilege for the children of those who once protected India.
Emerging Issues
While the RMEWF educational assistance scheme has been crucial in supporting ex-servicemen’s families, several emerging issues have been noted in its implementation and its impact:
- Limited Coverage for Professional Courses:
The scheme excludes professional and technical courses like engineering, law, or medicine, which limits the access for students who are aspiring to enter competitive and skill-based fields. As the education trends shift towards such courses, this restriction may affect the families.
- Insufficient Financial Support in the Present Times:
The fixed amount of Rs. 1,000 per month per child has not been revised in over a decade, with all the rising cost of education and inflation. The amount which is being given falls short of covering the actual tuition, books, and living expenses, especially in the private or urban institutions.
- Lack of Awareness and Outreach:
Many of the eligible beneficiaries in the rural and remote areas remain unaware of the scheme or unclear about the application process. Outreach efforts have also been limited due to fewer manpower or administrative constraints.
Way Forward
- Enhance Financial Assistance:
The current grant of Rs. 1,000 per month requires an urgent change to reflect the rising cost of education, especially in urban areas and private institutions. The government can also introduce a tiered assistance based on the course type, like school, UG, PG, and the location of rural vs. urban, which can make the support more equitable and meaningful.
- Include Professional and Technical Courses:
Expand the eligibility to include professional and vocational courses like engineering, law, nursing, paramedical, and IT, which would broaden the career options for the beneficiaries. This would also end up aligning with the scheme goals of Skill India and employment-driven education.
- Strengthen Outreach and Awareness:
The government should also launch awareness campaigns in collaboration with Zila Sainik Boards, local schools, and ex-servicemen’s organisations to reach more eligible families. Can also introduce help desks or digital literacy support for online applications, which would also assist families unfamiliar with technology.
References
- Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund (RMEWF) scheme. IndiaFilings. (n.d.). https://www.indiafilings.com/learn/raksha-mantri-ex-servicemen-welfare-fund-rmewf-scheme/
- MyScheme. (n.d.). https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/rmewf-education
- Department of ex-servicemen welfare: Ministry of Defence: Government of India. Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare | Ministry of Defence | Government of India. (n.d.). https://www.desw.gov.in/welfareschemes/rmewf-financial-assistance-education-childrenwidows-esm
- 20, F. (2025, February 20). Welfare schemes for the rehab & support of ESM and dependents. ESM CORNER. https://esmcorner.com/rmewf-rehab-support-for-indias-serving-esm/
- Press Information Bureau. (n.d.). https://www.pib.gov.in/ https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1911126
- Schemes.vikaspedia.in. (n.d.). https://schemes.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/schemesall/schemes-for-women-schemesall/financial-assistance-to-the-dependants-of-martyred-soldiers?lgn=en
- 8, J. (2024, July 7). Financial help for education of ESM’s children & widows. ESM CORNER. https://esmcorner.com/learn-about-education-assistance-for-esm-families/
- MyScheme. (n.d.). https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/rmewf-vocational-training
About the contributor: Shreya Parthiban, an undergraduate student at Sai University, Chennai, and a Research Intern at Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI).
Acknowledgement: The author extends her sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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