Clarification regarding rates of subscription of ECHS Membership/Refund of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) in Certain Specific Cases

Clarification regarding rates of subscription of ECHS Membership/Refund of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) in Certain Specific Cases

Central Organisation ECHS
Adjutant General’s Branch
IHQ of MOD (Army)
Maude Lines
Delhi Cantt – 110 010
B/49701/01-PR/AG/ECHS/2017

19 Jun 2017

IHQ MoD (Navy)/PD ECHS (N)
Air HQ (Subroto Park)/DAV
HQ, Southern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ. Eastern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ. Western Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Central Command (A/ECHS)
HQ Northern Command (A/ECHS)
HQ South Western Command (A/ECHS)
All Regional Centres, ECHS

CLARIFICATION REGARDING RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION OF ECHS MEMBERSHIP/REFUND OF FIXED MEDICAL ALLOWANCE(FMA) IN CERTAIN SPECIFIC CASES

l. Ref GoI, MoD ID No 22(1)/01/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 30 Dec 2002, No 22(1)/01/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 01, Apr 2003, No 22(20)/05/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 10 Feb 2006 and No 22D(04)/10/US(WE)/ D(Res) dated 02 Aug 2011.

2. In this connection, copy of GoI, MoD ID No 22D(17)/2016/(WE)/D(Res) dated 02 Jun 2017 is encl herewith for your info and necessary action.

sd/-
(PK Singh)
Capt (IN)
Offg Dir (Ops & Coord)
for MD ECHS

As above.

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No.22D (17)/2016/(WE)/D(Res)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi, the 2 June, 2017

To
The Chief of Army Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
The Chief Of Air Staff

Subject: Clarification regarding rates of subscription of ECHS membership/refund of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) in certain specific cases.

Sir,

In continuation of Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No. 22(1)/01/US(WE)ID(Res) dated 30 December 2002, No. 22(1)/01/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 01 April 2003, No. 22(20)/05/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 10 February 2006 and No. 22D(04)/10/US(WE)/D(Res) dated 02 August 2011, I am directed to convey the following clarifications regarding rates of subscription of ECHS contribution to be paid by ESM/ refund of FMA in certain specific situations where doubts have been raised:

Sl.No	Point of doubt	Clarification
(a)	For ESM who retired between 01 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 and to whom FMA was being paid but was stopped and ECHS membership was not given due to non recovery of subscription, what should be the rate of subscription to be deducted from them at the time of applying for ECHS membership and how should the FMA that was be refunded?	(i) Rates of the subscription of ECHS contribution that was applicable at the time of their retirement may be deducted.   (ii) Payment of FMA which was stopped may be claimed separately by the ESMs.
(b)	ESM who retired between 01 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 and from whom subscription was deducted in PPO but the process of membership of ECHS was not completed in terms of submission/processing of application form. These ESMs are now approaching for membership. Whether ECHS subscription already deducted is to be treated as final, or should difference in old and new rates of ECHS subscription?	Once subscription has been deducted and endorsed in PPO, old rates will be applicable for this category of ESM, irrespective of the date on which they apply for membership
(c)	Whether old rates applicable at the time of their retirement or the new rates applicable at the time of application should be paid by those ESMs who retired between 01 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, and in whose case ECHS contribution was not deducted and FMA has been paid due to oversight/ error in PPO.	New rates of subscription prevalent at the time of application will be applicable for ESM who apply for ECHS at a later date
(d)	From whom should the ECHS subscription be deducted in cases where both husband and wife are serving in the Armed Forces and they retire at different dates?	The Scheme being compulsory in nature, husband/wife who retires first, should pay the contribution and avail benefits of the Scheme and no subscription should be deducted from husband/wife who retires later. He/ She will be eligible for benefits under the Scheme as a spouse.

2. This issues with concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Finance) vide their U.O. No.32(14)/2015.FIN/PEN dated 30.05.2017.

Yours faithfully,

(A.K. Karn)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Signed Copy