Recent announcements indicate that to some extent the services have compromised on their demands; right or wrong is a separate issue. Agniveers are now the order of the day as also is manpower reduction, all intended to cut costs.
CGHS and ECHS patients are served on a subsidized cost and these schemes were intended to serve vulnerable populations.
The CGHS was the scheme whose model was copied in establishing the ECHS.
One of the key demands of the protesters is reversal of 10 years of mandatory period to original 5 years.
It is surprising that medical resources of the armed forces can be compelled to absorb millions registered under this scheme but cannot provide services to those who wore the uniform and gave the best years of their life to the service of the nation. An irony of this nature can only flow from an unconcerned MoD.
The armed forces like other central agencies have been created with a specific purpose. Their mission, aims and tasks are…
