AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 36 of 170 obverse, and the photographs of each dependent on the reverse, with a security hologram to prevent misuse, will be issued within a short period to the member of the ECHS. 27. Upon the conclusion of his talk, questions were invited. In reply to a question as to the utility of a single ID card which would render medical treatment infeasible to members of a family residing (temporarily or otherwise) at different locations (by virtue of being on a visit etc, or by virtue of a child studying elsewhere in the country), Gen Natarajan stated that he would get back to Army HQ and address this issue. He also replied that it was not possible to consider staggered payments of the one time contribution, or a gradation based on age, since the essential basis of approval by the Government was similarity with clauses with the CGHS and the Railwaymen’s scheme. He also clarified that those retirees who were members of the medical insurance schemes of the AGIS and the AFGIS (the Navy having no such scheme), would, shortly after becoming members of the ECHS, be refunded a proportion of the contribution made to the AGIS and the AFGIS (without in any way impacting on the Life Insurance portion of the AGIS and AFGIS cover) as was appropriate to the medical cover of those schemes. For this the retiree would have to intimate the AGIS and the AFGIS about having become a member of the ECHS. He clarified that the AGIS and the AFGIS medical cover schemes would remain concurrently in force for a period of five years till 31 Mar 2008, after which they would become defunct. Retirees had till then to become members of the ECHS, should one wish to prevaricate till then before deciding to join the ECHS. He also clarified that pensioners who had opted for the Rs 100 per month allowance through their pension paying banks would automatically cease to draw this amount after becoming members of the ECHS. 28. Lt Gen Natarajan mentioned that the required forms etc would soon be made available at MHs, at Canteens, and at Services HQ all over the country. There would be printed MROs, which would mention the code head into which a pensioner would need to make payment of his/her one time contribution, and this would greatly ease the process. 29. For the members of the AFVOA AFVOA will facilitate the process of our members joining the ECHS by centrally making available the affidavits for those who wish to avail of this assistance, on payment of the necessary administrative expenses together with details of the family members who are dependent on the pensioner member. The rates for joining the Scheme has since been revised. The new rates are a given below: Basic Pension Rate of Subscription Upto Rs 1500/- Rs 1800 Between Rs 1501 – 3000 Rs 4800 Between Rs 3001 – 5000 Rs 8400 Between Rs 5001 – 7500 Rs 12000 Above Rs 7500 Rs 18000 (Note Basic Pension excluding DA) 30. Please await further details which will be given out at the next Meeting. ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ ˵ Next Meeting One without a friend is like the right hand without the left. ~ Bosnian Proverb