Military Station Zakhama held an Ex‑Servicemen Outreach Programme in Kohima on 9 July 2026 covering the SPARSH pension system and veteran welfare issues for ex‑servicemen, war widows and dependents.
The SPARSH System
- Full form: System for Pension Administration (Raksha).
- Function: Web‑based platform for defence pension administration and digital disbursement of pensions.
- Authority: Implemented under the Ministry of Defence for central pension records and payments.
Ex‑Servicemen Institutional Framework
- Department: Department of Ex‑Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence) handles central policy on veteran welfare.
- State bodies: Rajya Sainik Boards operate at state level for local grievance redressal and welfare coordination.
- Medical scheme: Ex‑Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) delivers primary and secondary healthcare to veterans and dependents.
Kohima Outreach — Operational Points
- Focus areas: Pension queries under SPARSH, welfare entitlements for war widows and dependents, and grievance handling.
- Attendance: Local outreach included participating ex‑servicemen and war widows from Kohima district.
- Previous engagement: A larger ex‑servicemen rally was held at Kisama Heritage Village (near Kohima) in March 2026.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Veer Nari: Official term used for war widows in defence welfare literature.
- Rajya Sainik Boards: Statutory/state‑level bodies for rehabilitation, resettlement and welfare facilitation.
- SPARSH relation to banks: Platform interfaces with banks for electronic pension credit (PEC) and disbursal.