A stark warning on veteran welfare echoes from New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition, addressed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a letter dated February 28. He seeks immediate boosts to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) funding and reversal of taxes on disability pensions.
ECHS, meant to safeguard retirees’ health, is on the brink due to chronic underfunding. A staggering ₹12,000 crore-plus in bills languish unpaid, as allocations trail needs by 30%. This has triggered hospital exits, out-of-pocket expenses for ex-soldiers, and dangerous delays in urgent treatments like those for cancer.
Drawing from direct veteran interactions, Gandhi conveyed their profound sense of betrayal. ‘Hearing their dismay at being let down by their government is painful,’ he stated.
The letter vehemently opposes Finance Bill 2026’s tax on disability pensions for active-duty injuries—a novel imposition post-1922. Such pensions alleviate battle scars, not generate revenue; taxing them mocks the selfless duty of injured servicemen.
Gandhi implored for full ECHS reimbursements via sufficient budgets and tax waivers on pensions. ‘Our soldiers deserve comprehensive national backing,’ he concluded, positioning these fixes as essential to upholding commitments to those who defend the motherland.