The “Festival Gift Coupons” scheme is a welfare initiative by the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund under the Department of Sainik Welfare, Puducherry. This scheme is designed to provide non-pensioner Ex-servicemen and Widows of Ex-servicemen who are registered with the Department with Festival Gift Coupons worth ₹4,000/- per annum. The coupons, which are to be collected in person on intimation from the Department of Sainik Welfare (DSW), are normally available between November and January. Applications for this scheme are accepted offline.
Benefits
- Financial Benefit:
Festival Gift Coupons worth ₹4,000/- per annum. - Collection Method:
The coupons are collected in person upon intimation from the DSW during the designated period (typically November to January).
Eligibility
- Applicant Profile:
The applicant must be an Ex-serviceman or the Widow of an Ex-serviceman. - Registration Requirement:
The Ex-serviceman must be registered with the Department of Sainik Welfare, Puducherry. - Pension Status:
The applicant must be a Non-Pensioner. - Age Requirement:
The Ex-serviceman must be 60 years or older as of 31st March of the current year (there is no age bar for Widows of Ex-servicemen). - Employment Condition:
The scheme also covers those Ex-servicemen or their living spouses/widows who are re-employed as regular or deemed regular in Government/Public Sector Undertakings, Private Organizations, or are self-employed in IT assessments.
Application Process
Offline Process
- Obtain the Application Form:
- Option 1: Download the prescribed application format from the Official Website of the Department of Sainik Welfare.
- Option 2: Visit the Rajya Sainik Board, Jawan Bhawan, Department of Sainik Welfare, Government of Puducherry at:
261, Lawspet Main Road, Pakkamudianpet, Puducherry Road, Lawspet, Puducherry – 605013, India, and request a hard copy of the application form.
- Fill the Application Form:
- Complete all mandatory fields.
- Paste a recent passport-sized photograph (signed across if required).
- Attach copies of all mandatory documents (self-attested if required).
- Submit the Application:
- Submit the completed and signed application form along with the required documents to the concerned authority at the Rajya Sainik Board.
- A receipt or acknowledgement with a unique application number will be provided by the authority.
Documents Required
- Recent Passport-sized Photograph.
- Identity Card of the Ex-serviceman or the Widow of an Ex-serviceman.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which Department of the UT of Puducherry administers this scheme?
The scheme is administered by the Department of Sainik Welfare, Puducherry. -
Where can I find the URL of the Official Website of the Department of Sainik Welfare, Puducherry?
The official website URL is available on the Department’s website and related government portals. -
Where can I find the contact details of the Public Information Officer and the Appellate Authority?
These details can be found on the Official Website under the “Contact Us” section. -
Are Short Service/Emergency Commissioned Officers eligible to be considered as Ex-servicemen?
Please refer to the scheme guidelines for the definition of “Ex-servicemen” under this scheme. -
Is this scheme also applicable to the Widows of Ex-servicemen?
Yes, the scheme applies to the Widows of Ex-servicemen. -
What is the procedure for seeking information through “Right To Information (RTI)”?
RTI requests should be made as per the norms specified on the Department’s website. -
How can an applicant request a receipt or acknowledgement for the submitted application?
The receipt is provided by the Rajya Sainik Board upon submission. -
Can applicants track the status of their application for the scheme?
Tracking mechanisms may be available through the Department’s official channels; please consult the guidelines. -
Where can I find detailed guidelines for the welfare schemes provided by the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund?
Detailed guidelines are available on the Official Website and in the scheme documents. -
Where can I get the application forms for the welfare schemes provided by the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund?
Application forms can be obtained from the Official Website or directly from the Rajya Sainik Board. -
Is there any relaxation in the income criteria for eligibility under certain circumstances?
This scheme does not specify income criteria for eligibility. -
Where should the application form be submitted for this scheme?
The form should be submitted at the Rajya Sainik Board, as indicated in the application process. -
Is there any compensation for the delay in the disbursal of the scheme benefits?
Please refer to the official guidelines and government orders for information on disbursal delays. -
How can I contact the Department of Sainik Welfare, Government of Puducherry for grievance redressal/general queries?
Address: 261, Lawspet Main Road, Pakkamudianpet, Puducherry Road, Lawspet, Puducherry – 605013, India
Phone: (+91)(0413) 2253107
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm