BRIEF HISTORY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF SAINIK WELFARE, MAHARASHTRA STATE

 
        On 25 March 1919, BOMBAY SOLDIERS’ BOARD was established vide Government of Bombay, War Related Department Order No 1061, with the aim to look after the welfare of ex-servicemen. The functions of this board were as follows: -
   (a) Formulations and maintenance of district records of war services.
   (b) Land rewards or grants to soldiers.
   (c) Help the Ex-servicemen to get employment in Govt. Service on priority.
   (d) Rehabilitation of the wounded, incapacitated soldiers.
   (e) Safeguarding the general interest of soldiers while on active service.
   (f) To remain in constant liaison with the Military authorities to resolve the socio-economic
      problems of ex-servicemen arising due to reduction in strength.
   (g) Education concession for children of Ex-servicemen.
     The Secretary of War Related Department, Government of Bombay had been appointed as the Chairman of the Board, and the Secretary Resettlement Committee was appointed as Secretary of the board. The following chiefs and gentlemen were also appointed as members of the Board:-
  • Lt Col H.H. Jam Shri Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji
  • K.C.S.I. Maharaja of Nawanagar
  • Meharban Pirajirao Bapu Saheb Ghatge, C.S.I.,C.I.E., Chief of Kagal.
  • The Commissioner of C.D.
  • The Commissioner of S.D.
  • Rao Bahadur R.G. Naik, M.B.E.

     Initially, the following establishment consisting of 16 personnel was sanctioned to the board:

  • Secretary                            - 1
  • Head Clerk                          - 1
  • Head Accountant                 - 1
  • Clerks                                 - 9
  • Peon                                   - 4
                        Total                16
      In a Government Resolution dated 07 Sep 1919, the then Government of India suspended the functioning of the Central Recruiting Board and at its place a new Board was established called the Indian Soldiers’ Board to advise on matters concerning the interest of serving, discharged and deceased Indian Soldiers and Non-Combatants and their dependents. This board was then affiliated to the Army Department of the Government.

    Due to the steady expansion of the Navy and the Air Force during the Second World War, the need for a single organisation to perform the same functions in relations to those services as well as Army was felt and the Board was consequently reconstituted in April 1944.

    On 24 July 1950, the Govt. of Bombay, vide Resolution No SD II/329 dated 24-7-1950 had appointed a full time Secretary to the Board.

   Consequent to re-organization of Indian States on the linguistic basis, the Bombay State has been re-named as Maharashtra State, and accordingly this department has been re-named as Maharashtra State Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen’s Board, which was re-designated as Department of Sainik Welfare Maharashtra State, with its Secretary as Director.

The brief chronology of change of titles, pertaining to Centre, State and district Sainik boards are given as follows :-
Date of Change Centre State District
March 1951 Indian Soldier's, Sailor's and Airman's Board State Soldier's, Sailor's and Airman's Board District Soldier's, Sailor's and Airman's Board
November 1975 Kendriya Sainik Board Rajya Sainik Board Zila Sainik Board 
November 1983   Department of Sainik Welfare Zila Sainik Welfare Office
 

    On 08 March 1966 the State Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Board and 18 District Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Board were declared as State Government Offices and the staff employed in these offices as State Government Servants. Thereafter 12 new Zilla Sainik Welfare Offices in 14 districts (2 combined offices for Parbhani-Nanded and Bhandara-Gondia districts) were formed, the salaries and allowances were borne by the Centre and State Government on 50:50 % basis.

   The welfare of the ex-servicemen and their dependents is the joint responsibility of the Centre and State, however majority of the problems will have to be resolved only by the States. To assist the State Government in this regard, there are 32 Rajya Sainik Boards in the country. Like the  Kendriya Sainik Board at the Centre, the Rajya/Zila Sainik Boards are advisory bodies in respect of the policy formulation with regard to resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen residing in States/Districts. However, the implementation of various resettlement and welfare schemes is carried out through Department of Sainik Welfare in States and Zila Sainik Welfare Offices at Districts.