GUWAHATI, Oct 16 - Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre today inaugurated the first Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinic at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. He also opened the first ECHS polyclinic at Tenga.
Lt Gen GS Sangha, General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, Major General RK Jha, General Officer Commanding, Ball of Fire Division, and Brigadier Zubin Bhatnagar, Commander of the Tawang Garrison, were present in the event at Tawang along with officials from the district administration and a large number of ex-servicemen of Tawang and adjoining areas, Defence spokesman Lt Col P Khongsai said in a statement issued here.
�The ECHS Clinic in Tawang was a long pending dream of ex-servicemen in Tawang district which had witnessed fierce battle with China in 1962. The scheme will provide quality medical care to all ex-servicemen, their widows and authorised dependants of Tawang who could not travel up to the nearest ECHS facilities located approximately 350 km away at Tezpur and Guwahati. This polyclinic will also act as a nodal point for treatment of veterans in the empanelled superspeciality hospitals in major cities of India,� the spokesman said.
The Union MoS also addressed the gathering and highlighted various welfare measures being undertaken by the Government for ex-servicemen. He had an interaction with them later during a tea party organised by the Tawang Brigade.
Located in a remote high altitude area along the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, Tawang district has limited medical facilities including a district hospital and five Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Medical and surgical specialists of the Army Hospital at Tawang and Tenga will also visit the polyclinic regularly to provide specialist care to ex-servicemen.
The minister, in his interaction with the ex-servicemen and their families, assured continued support and commitment of the Government towards the welfare of the ex-servicemen.