Latest news with #ECHS
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Restore medical treatment of ex-serviceman's dependent under ECHS regardless of PWD Act listing: AFT to MoD
Chandigarh: The ministry of defence (MoD) cannot deny medical treatment under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to dependents of a member merely because their ailment is not listed as a disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 2016, according to an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) ruling. The tribunal also clarified that the authorities are supposed to consider practical as well as compassionate aspects when cancelling or withdrawing any policy or letter and "are under obligation to see that no one is harmed". A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kumar, judicial member, and Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, administration member of AFT Lucknow, passed these orders while allowing an application filed by Sheela Devi, widow of Havildar Ganga Sahay. She sought directions to issue an order to the MoD to continue her son's treatment after a kidney transplant, which was stopped after he turned 25 years, as per a policy letter dated Dec 5, 2017, issued by the ministry of defence (DoESW). The applicant's husband joined the Indian Army in 1974, was discharged from service in 1996, and died in 2003. Thereafter, the applicant was issued an ECHS card, which included all her family members. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Her son, Mohit Kumar, was admitted to the Command Hospital, Lucknow, in Aug 2021 and was diagnosed with 'Advanced Renal Dysfunction with Small Echogenic Kidney' and was advised to undergo a kidney transplant. The applicant donated a kidney to her son, which was transplanted on June 14, 2023, and since then, her son has been under treatment through ECHS. However, she was informed by the authorities that her son does not fall under the PWD Act, 2016, and therefore, he is not eligible for further treatment through ECHS beyond the age of 25. Aggrieved by the authorities' decision, she approached the AFT Lucknow. She contended that after her husband's death, she is in a financial crisis as she does not have any other source of income except a meagre family pension. The counsel for the applicant further submitted that her son's disability (chronic kidney disease) being a renal transplant case was permanent in nature and assessed at 80-90%. He also submitted that the treatment could not be stopped on the grounds of the disease not being included in the list of disabilities under the PWD Act, 2016, as he has been under treatment for chronic kidney disease since Aug 2021. Counsel representing the MoD reiterated that the treatment of the applicant's son was stopped as per rules because the kidney disease is not included in the list of 21 disabilities under the PWD Act, 2016, and her son has crossed the permissible age of 25 years. After hearing all the parties, the AFT held that the authorities acted in a very casual manner without considering the fact that he is suffering from a serious kidney ailment that threatens his life. In its detailed order released last week, the AFT further directed the MoD to restore or restart the treatment, considering it as a special case, and to reimburse the expenses incurred by the applicant in the treatment of her son from the date of stoppage of the treatment until its actual restoration.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Free medical tests ordered by Delhi govt dispensaries, Mohalla clinics, others are possible only with these documents
The Lieutenant Governor of National Capital Territory of Delhi has made changes to the list of documents required for availing free of cost medical laboratory tests. The updated list of documents has been mentioned in an official gazette notification on May 20, 2025. To give you a brief background, under this scheme the laboratory tests are outsourced to another company and the tests are ordered by government hospitals, polyclinics, Delhi government dispensaries, AamAadmiMohalla Clinics in Delhi for the patient's health investigation purposes. Consumers are not charged any money for availing this free of cost laboratory tests under this scheme since the money for these tests are paid from the consolidated fund of the government of NCT of Delhi. Read below to know the details of the changes made by the Delhi government. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mountain Gear for Extreme Conditions Trek Kit India Learn More Undo What are the updated list of documents required for free laboratory tests? According to the official e-gazette notification dated May 20, 2025, here are the details of the documents: An individual desirous of availing the benefit under the above-mentioned Schemes shall hereby be required to furnish proof of possession of the Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication. Live Events Any individual desirous of availing the benefit under the above mentioned Schemes, who does not possess the Aadhaar number or, has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, shall be required to make application for Aadhaar enrolment subject to the consent of his parents or guardians (in case of child beneficiaries), provided that he is entitled to obtain Aadhaar as per section 3 of the said Act and such children/person shall visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre (list available at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) website to get enrolled for Aadhaar. Henceforth, the benefit under the above-mentioned Schemes shall be given to individuals subject to production of the following documents, namely: In case individual/beneficiary possesses Aadhaar number: proof of possession of the Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication In case individual/beneficiary does not possess Aadhaar number: For children (a) Aadhaar Enrolment Identification slip, or of bio-metric update identification slip; and any one of the following documents, namely: - 1. Birth Certificate; or Record of birth issued by the appropriate authority; or 2. School identity card, duly signed by the principal of the school, containing parents' names; and 3. Any one of the following documents as proof of relationship of the beneficiary with the parent or legal guardian as per the extant Scheme guidelines, namely: – Birth Certificate; or Record of birth issued by the appropriate authority; or Ration Card; or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Card; or Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Card; or Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Card; or Pension Card; or Army Canteen Card; or Any Government Family Entitlement Card. For other than children (a) Aadhaar Enrolment Identification slip; and (b) any one of the following documents, namely:- Bank or Post office Passbook with Photo; or Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card; or Passport; or Ration Card; or Voter Identity Card; or Kisan Photo passbook; or Driving license issued by the Licensing Authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988). 'Provided further that the above documents shall be checked by an officer specifically designated by the Department for that purpose,' the notification read as follows. What if Aadhaar authentication fails due to poor biometrics? According to the notification dated May 20, 2025, in all cases, where Aadhaar authentication fails due to poor biometrics of the beneficiaries or due to any other reason, the following remedial mechanisms shall be adopted, namely: - In case of poor fingerprint quality, iris scan or face authentication facility shall be adopted for authentication, thereby the Department through its Implementing Agency shall make provisions for iris scanners or face authentication along with finger-print authentication for delivery of benefits in seamless manner; In case the biometric authentication through fingerprints or iris scan or face authentication is not successful, wherever feasible and admissible authentication by Aadhaar One Time Password or Timebased One-Time Password with limited time validity, as the case may be, shall be offered; In all other cases where biometric or Aadhaar One Time Password or Time- based One-Time Password authentication is not possible, benefits under the scheme may be given on the basis of physical Aadhaar letter whose authenticity can be verified through the Quick Response code printed on the Aadhaar letter and the necessary arrangement of Quick Response code reader shall be provided at the convenient locations by the Department through its Implementing Agency. With inputs from Ira Alok Puranik.
United News of India
21-04-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Soldiers must excel in combat skills, mental stability, spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Rajnath
New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that to tackle the challenges emanating from today's constantly evolving nature of warfare, it is necessary for soldiers to not only excel in combat skills but also maintain mental stability and spiritual empowerment. Rajnath Singh while addressing an event organised at the Brahma Kumaris Headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan emphasised that, now-a-days, wars are being fought on cyber, space, information and psychological fronts and there is a need for soldiers to become mentally strong as the nation can be protected with not just weapons, but also with strong personality, enlightened consciousness and awareness. The Defence Minister pointed out that while physical strength is fundamental for a soldier, mental strength is equally vital. He stated that soldiers protect the nation while serving in difficult conditions, and these challenges are overcome through an energy born out of a strong inner-self. He added that prolonged stress, uncertainty and working in difficult conditions could affect the mental health, which calls for strengthening the inner self. The Brahma Kumaris' campaign to bolster the mental health of soldiers is a commendable step in that direction, he said. He further added that this initiative will further strengthen the minds of the soldiers in view of the present global geopolitical scenario. 'The theme of the campaign 'Self-Empowerment - Through Inner Awakening' is extremely interesting and relevant in today's times. Self transformation through meditation, yoga, positive thinking and self-dialogue will provide mental, emotional and spiritual strength to our brave soldiers. Self transformation is the seed, national transformation is its fruit. In an atmosphere of global uncertainty, India can spread the message that protection of inner-self and borders is possible together,' he said. He described spirituality and yoga, which are ingrained in India's culture, as the biggest means to enhance mental well-being and deal with stress, anxiety and emotional turmoil. He said, an alert and strong security personnel becomes a lighthouse for the nation, which can face any storm with determination. He acknowledged the Security Service Wing of the Brahma Kumaris organisation for bolstering the security forces through residential, field and online programmes, special campaigns and force specific projects. As part of the event, an MoU was signed between the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence and Headquarters SSW, Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of Brahma Kumaris in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh. The aim is to guide Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries towards achieving better mental health and reducing dependency of medicines. UNI RBE SJC
