Pune: Indian Army has begun doorstep delivery of medicines not available at ECHS polyclinics to retired personnel within the Southern Command.Addressing a gathering of nearly 4,000 veterans during the 10th Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrations on Wednesday at Air Force Station, Pune, Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth stated that this initiative would be expanded in phases to cover a larger population.“The aim is to ensure that ex-servicemen do not face hardship due to the non-availability of prescribed medicines at polyclinics. This doorstep delivery system is currently being implemented across the Southern Command and will gradually be scaled up,” he said. Highlighting the scale of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), the Army Commander noted that approximately 64 lakh veterans and their dependents nationwide currently benefit from the scheme. To further strengthen this network, 23 new ECHS polyclinics were being established across India, and 25 existing facilities upgraded.“In the Southern Command alone, we have 116 polyclinics. Out of these, 13 have already been upgraded and 12 new clinics are under construction,” Lt Gen Seth added. He also emphasised the integration of AYUSH and Yoga centers within ECHS polyclinics to provide holistic healthcare options.The Commander also shared progress on grievance redressal, particularly regarding pay and allowances. Over the last two years, the Army received approximately 2.56 lakh grievances in this category, with 2.40 lakh (nearly 94%) successfully resolved. “This reflects our commitment to addressing long-pending issues and ensuring transparency in the systems affecting our veterans,” he said. To assist with pension-related issues through the SPARSH system and other administrative hurdles, the Army is also expanding its “Naman Centres”. “So far, 100 Naman Centres have been set up nationwide. We plan to double this number by Jan 2027,” Lt Gen Seth said. Currently, 40 of these centres are operational within the Southern Command. The event was attended by senior officers, including Air Commodore Satbir Singh Rai, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Pune, and Maharashtra Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil. Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed annually on Jan 14 to commemorate the retirement of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The Pune event served as a vital platform for direct interaction between the military leadership and the veteran community, focusing on welfare, pensions, and timely support for those who served the nation.
