In a landmark decision, the Defence Ministry has approved the provision of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) facilities for officer cadets who suffer disabilities and are discharged during military training.
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Until now, such cadets were excluded from ECHS benefits as they do not hold ex-servicemen (ESM) status. The new order, issued by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), grants them free access to medical treatment at military hospitals, ECHS polyclinics, and empanelled private facilities.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of these reports and sought responses from the Centre and the armed forces.
According to the Defence Ministry’s order, cadets invalidated due to disabilities attributable to or aggravated by military training will now be eligible. Unlike ex-servicemen officers, they will not be required to pay the one-time ECHS subscription fee of ₹1.2 lakh.
However, the facility will be available only to the affected cadet, not their dependents. Officials clarified that this has been granted as a special one-time dispensation and not as a general entitlement.
At present, all ex-servicemen receive ECHS benefits. But cadets disabled before commissioning have remained outside this framework, despite their injuries being directly linked to military training.
While the new measure addresses immediate medical concerns, cadets continue to demand disability pensions and full ex-servicemen status, which would entitle them to long-term resettlement and welfare benefits.
