In a major boost to veteran welfare, a new Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic was inaugurated in Clement Town, Dehradun. The state-of-the-art facility was officially opened by Major General MPS Gill, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Uttarakhand Sub Area, and Major General Naveen Mahajan, GOC of the Golden Key Division, in the presence of retired Lieutenant General Sanjeev Anand and other senior veterans.
The new polyclinic is set to serve more than 7,000 ex-servicemen and their families in and around Dehradun, significantly expanding the reach of the ECHS network. Established under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, ECHS aims to ensure quality and accessible healthcare for retired armed forces personnel.
Equipped with modern medical infrastructure, the Clement Town polyclinic includes spacious consultation rooms, diagnostic facilities, and an efficient administrative setup. The need for such an upgrade has become increasingly urgent, with the veteran healthcare demand rising by over 30% in the last four years, as highlighted by an Armed Forces Medical Services study.
The inaugural ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting event and a guided tour of the polyclinic, with military officials briefing attendees about the services on offer. The event was notable for its display of inter-generational unity, as active duty officers and retired veterans interacted and pledged continued cooperation in supporting the veteran community.
The polyclinic’s opening aligns with the Indian Army’s commitment to the “Year of Defence Reforms,” focused on modernizing support systems for veterans and their dependents. Officials expressed hope that the facility would serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country.
