ECHS: Readers Responses

Dear Brig Kuthiala,
Please accept heartiest congratulations on achieving the impossible- to get the Govt/ MOD to backtrack on their own orders!

As first MD ECHS, and the one who raised the organisation, and wrote the initial set of instructions, I was deeply disappointed when Army HQs (with Dus as Consultant ECHS) agreed to change of this most important clause of referral procedure. In a vain attempt we had even gone to an ex-Raksha Mantri to raise issues of ECHS in Parliament. It was done but with little success.

My philosophy for the ECHS was "patient first - procedures later". Accordingly the initial ECHS instructions allowed the ECHS member to choose direct referral to a hospital of choice or to an MH. Pithy GOI officials in MOD, abetted by the Consultant, changed this to "only referral through MH", thereby causing immense bottle necks at inconvenience to old pensioners who were made to shuttle back and forth.

I recall my first argument with the FA (DS)- Ms- (I forget her name, she was a spinster)- who said MH capacity would not be gainfully utilised. I reminded her that the very purpose of creating the ECHS was to have a parallel medical scheme, because it was the opinion then that MHs were under considerable load, and could not look after existing men in uniform. And here she was suggesting just the opposite. Second argument I gave was that ECHS is meant to give that "second Chance" to pensioners who were not spring chickens by any stretch of imagination, and every second mattered in timely aid. So I had suggested the principle of "save yourself first, and we will take care of the rules later". Despite reluctance much of this was accepted.

Third argument by her was - what if the system is misused? I flatly told her that people don't rush to specialist or other hospitals for fun - they do so when they are extremely sick - so let's be charitable. This was not the CGHS I said, but disciplined soldiers that were exercising their right. To check misuse, the original charter had thought of an Ombudsman and a Vigilance system - I had vowed to keep the system clean, to the extent possible.

You can do nothing when your own colleagues and men in uniform abdicate their responsibility and sing to the Govts tune for "re-employment" post retirement. Let me be very brutally frank - we are our worst enemies, and bureaucrats take advantage of that.
So my admiration and compliments to you.
Maj Gen (Retd) KULDIP SINDHU

From: Bankim Sutaria
Subject: PENSION CELL
Date: Wednesday, 12 August, 2009, 4:38 PM
I am very happy to learn about the pension cell which IESM has started. It is good to learn about the work being done by various ESM.

Our organisation in Gujarat has been running a pension cell for last couple of years. Specially for PBORS. With our efforts the number of PBOR has been benefited. With our efforts in last couple of years they have received nothing less than 2-2.5 CRORES of rupees as arrears. The latest is a wife of a Lt.Col.Patel who received Rs.14 lacs ( Fourteen lacs) as arrears before the change of pay band. Add this than it will be 15.5 lacs.

We can offer our service. Our observation is that in remote areas and in states where population of ESM is thin large number of PBOR are not receiving proper pension. When it comes to our notice we work out the difference for every six months. And give the details to pension paying authority. And if required take up the case with highest authority.
Sqn Ldr Bankim Sutaria (Retd Air warrior)