Rahul Gandhi, the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, has officially petitioned Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to deal with what he describes because the “insulting” taxation of incapacity pensions and a “serious investment disaster” throughout the army’s healthcare machine.
In a letter additionally copied to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Congress chief highlighted two particular grievances delivered to his consideration via a delegation of veterans. He argued that those that have put their lives at the line for the country are lately being “let down” via the federal government of their hour of want.
The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Well being Scheme (ECHS), designed to supply top-tier hospital therapy to veterans, is reportedly on the point of cave in because of a large backlog of unpaid expenses.
Gandhi famous that the present funds allocation is just about 30 in step with cent under what is needed.
Greater than ₹12,000 crore in clinical expenses stay pending.
Many personal hospitals are opting out of the scheme as a result of they are not being paid, forcing veterans — some affected by life-threatening diseases like most cancers — to pay out of their very own wallet or lengthen essential remedy.
Gandhi took specific intention at a suggestion within the Finance Invoice 2026 which seeks to tax the incapacity pensions of infantrymen who make a choice to proceed their carrier regardless of their accidents.
“That is the primary time since 1922 that incapacity pensions are being taxed,” Gandhi wrote. “When a disabled particular person chooses to proceed in carrier, she or he is serving the country regardless of maintaining accidents. It’s could be an insult to tax what will have to be praised.”
He insisted that those bills will have to by no means be categorized as “source of revenue,” as they’re intended to supply aid for bodily hardship and sacrifice, to not function a income move for the exchequer.
The letter concludes with a plea for the federal government to honour its “ethical legal responsibility” to the defense force. Gandhi has advised the Finance Minister to:
Transparent all pending ECHS liabilities with a right away injection of budget. Repair complete source of revenue tax exemptions on incapacity pensions to stop additional alienation of the veteran group.
“It used to be painful to listen to their emotions of being let down via their very own executive,” Gandhi remarked, calling for a go back to the “beef up of a thankful country.”
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