2 months ago
1
Leader of Opposition successful Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for backing to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and restoration of afloat income taxation exemption connected disablement pensions.
In his missive to Sitharaman, Mr. Gandhi said helium is requesting her enactment connected 2 issues affecting equipped forces personnel.
He wrote astir the recently introduced income taxation connected disablement pensions, saying it should not beryllium treated arsenic income, and said it is "insulting" to taxation thing that should beryllium praised. Mr. Gandhi said the ECHS is designed to springiness veterans the champion healthcare, and it should beryllium adequately funded.
"Today, it is suffering from terrible backing shortages. Over 12,000 crore successful aesculapian bills stay pending, fund allocation is astir 30% beneath requirement, and hospitals are opting retired owed to non-payment. Veterans are being forced to wage from their ain pockets, oregon adjacent hold attraction for superior diseases similar cancer. Those who served the state are feeling neglected successful their hr of need," Mr. Gandhi wrote.
The erstwhile Congress president highlighted the connection made successful the Finance Bill 2026 to taxation disablement pensions if the worker is retained successful service. "This is the archetypal clip since 1922 that disablement pensions are being taxed. Disability pensions are meant to supply alleviation to servicemen who endure injuries, and should not beryllium thought of arsenic income.
"Moreover, erstwhile a disabled serviceman chooses oregon is requested to proceed successful service, helium oregon she is selflessly serving India contempt sustaining injuries. It is insulting to taxation what should beryllium praised," Mr. Gandhi said.
The Congress person said his attraction was drawn to the substance by allegations of ex-servicemen helium had met. "It was achy to perceive their feelings of being fto down by their ain government.
"I americium definite you volition hold that our brothers and sisters who service successful the equipped forces merit each enactment from a grateful nation. Therefore, I impulse you to wide each pending ECHS liabilities with capable fund enactment and reconstruct afloat income taxation exemption connected disablement pensions," helium said. Mr. Gandhi besides sent a transcript of his missive to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
