Defence Ministry Body, Kendriya Sainik Board, Allocates Rs 932 Crore in Grants to Over 3.7 Lakh Armed Forces Beneficiaries in Last 5 Years
Over the past five years, the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), a body under the Defence Ministry, has allocated Rs 932 crore in grants to more than 3.7 lakh beneficiaries associated with the armed forces. These funds were distributed through various welfare schemes, including education grants for wards, daughters’ marriage support, and assistance for serious diseases. Recipients encompass ex-servicemen, widows, and dependents, benefiting from 10 welfare programs operated nationwide with the collaboration of 34 state KSBs and 410 district Sainik Boards. Among the grants provided are penury grants for non-pensioners up to Havildar rank, education grants, disabled children grants, orphan children grants, medical grants, daughter’s marriage grants, vocational training grants, and serious diseases grants. The Secretary of KSB, CMDE HP Singh, revealed that approximately Rs 932 crores have been disbursed to over 3.7 lakh beneficiaries in the last five years. In the fiscal year 2022-23 alone, grants totaling around Rs 250 crores have been distributed to over 99,000 beneficiaries. Singh highlighted the increase in grants for medical treatment, vocational training for widows, and assistance for serious diseases. Additionally, institutional grants have been extended to various centers and hostels across the country. The KSB, functioning under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence, aims to enhance the financial and social status of ex-servicemen through an inclusive and participatory approach. The KSB Secretariat advises state and district Sainik Boards on welfare matters, offering guidance on schemes and fund management for the well-being of ex-servicemen and their dependents.