**Executive Summary**
This document provides answers to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2400, which was to be answered on February 13th, 2026. It details the status of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics and Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteens in Himachal Pradesh. The document outlines eligibility criteria, staffing norms, and new facility approvals.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ECHS Polyclinics and CSD Canteens in Himachal Pradesh:**
* The total number of functional ECHS polyclinics and CSD canteens, district-wise, is detailed in the Annexure.
* **Eligibility for Services:**
* All defense pensioners who meet the ex-servicemen eligibility criteria, including Indian Navy and Indian Air Force personnel and their dependents, are eligible for ECHS scheme services.
* All serving and retired Armed Forces personnel, irrespective of their Service, are entitled to CSD facilities.
* **Polyclinic Categorization:**
* Polyclinics are categorized into five types (A to E) based on the number of ex-servicemen residing in a particular area. The daily average sick report varies by polyclinic type.
* **CSD Canteen Criteria:**
* A minimum of 5,000 ex-servicemen in a district/tehsil is required for a full ESM Unit Run Canteen (URC).
* An Extension Counter requires a minimum of 2,500 ex-servicemen.
* The distance to the nearest URC should exceed 50 km in plains and 30 km in hilly terrain.
* **New Facilities:**
* Three new polyclinics are now functional in Hamirpur, Solan, and Una districts.
* Nine ESM Unit Run Canteens/Extension Counters have been sanctioned in Himachal Pradesh in the last five years.
* **Medical Treatment for Officer Cadets:**
* Medical facilities under ECHS are granted to officer cadets invalidated from training on medical grounds due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ex-Servicemen and Dependents**
* **Impact:** Defines eligibility for ECHS and CSD facilities. Provides details on the availability and categorization of polyclinics based on regional need.
* **Action Required:** Determine eligibility for ECHS and CSD benefits and utilise the polyclinics and canteen facilities in their district.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministry of Defence / Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare)**
* **Impact:** Requires the implementation and maintenance of ECHS and CSD facilities according to the outlined norms and criteria. Must continue to monitor and adapt the system to meet the needs of ex-servicemen.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and improve the current ECHS and CSD network. Address the requirements of ex-servicemen by approving proposals for new facilities, ensuring timely implementation, and appropriate monitoring mechanisms.
**Stakeholder: Indian Navy / Indian Air Force Personnel and Dependents**
* **Impact:** Clarifies their eligibility for ECHS services, aligning them with other defense pensioners.
* **Action Required:** Utilize ECHS services as defense pensioners, adhering to established procedures.
**Stakeholder: Officer Cadets Invalidated from Training**
* **Impact:** Provides them with medical facilities under ECHS for conditions caused or aggravated by military training.
* **Action Required:** Access ECHS medical facilities if invalidated from training due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training.
Key Entities Referenced
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS): A health scheme for ex-servicemen, providing access to polyclinics and medical facilities.
Himachal Pradesh: The state where the ECHS polyclinics and CSD canteens are located, and the primary focus of the policy in the question.
Canteen Stores Department (CSD): A department that manages canteens providing goods to serving and retired armed forces personnel.
Ministry of Defence: The ministry responsible for the policy and related activities, answering questions about ECHS and CSD.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2400
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH FEBRUARY, 2026
ECHS POLYCLINICS AND CSD CANTEENS
2400. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur:
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics and
Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteens currently functional in Himachal Pradesh, district-
wise including Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kangra and Mandi;
(b) whether Indian Navy/Indian Air Force personnel along with their dependants are eligible to
avail services at these facilities and if so, the details thereof along with inter-service entitlements
and any restrictions thereon;
(c) the financial, demographic and geographic parameters and staffing norms followed for
sanctioning new ECHS polyclinics and CSD canteens in rural and hilly regions along with the
manner in which high recruitment-to-population ratios are factored into such planning;
(d) whether the Government has received/approved any proposals to establish new facilities in the
aforesaid districts and if so, the details thereof including timelines likely to be taken for making
such approved facilities functional along with the monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure timely
implementation; and
(e) whether the Government has approved provision of free medical treatment under the Ex-
Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme for officer cadets who suffer varying degrees of
disability during training and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) and (b) The total number of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)
polyclinics and Canteen Stores Department canteens currently functional in Himachal Pradesh,
district-wise is enclosed at Annexure.
All defence pensioners who fulfill the eligibility criteria of being Ex-servicemen including those
of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force with their dependents are eligible to avail services of ECHS
scheme.
..2/--2-
All serving and retired Armed Forces personnel, irrespective of their Service are entitled
to CSD facilities.
(c) Based on number of ex-servicemen residing in a particular area, polyclinics are categorized
into five types as under:-
Type of Polyclinics Strength of ESM Daily Average Sick Report
Type ‘A’ above 20000 281-420
Type ‘B’ above 10000 211-280
Type ‘C’ above 5000 141-210
Type ‘D’ above 2500 upto 140
Type ‘E’ above 850 (for remote areas) -
The criteria for opening a CSD Canteen include a minimum strength for full ESM (ex-
Servicemen) Unit Run Canteen (URC) of 5,000 ex-servicemen in a district/ tehsil and minimum
strength required for opening of an Extension Counter is 2,500 ESM. Further, the distance of
nearest Unit Run Canteen (URC) should be more than 50 Kms in plains and 30 Kms in hilly terrain.
(d) Three new Polyclinics are now functional at Bhoranj in District Hamirpur, Nalagarh in
District Solan, and Gagret in District Una in Himachal Pradesh. Further, nine ESM Unit Run
Canteens / Extension Counters have been sanctioned in Himachal Pradesh in last five years.
(e) Medical facilities under ECHS have been granted to officer cadets who are invalidated
from their training on medical ground due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military
training.
….3/--3-
ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026 REGARDING
ECHS POLYCLINICS AND CSD CANTEENS
ECHS POLYCLINICS FUNCTIONAL IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
S.No. District Name of Polyclinic
1 Bilaspur Bilaspur
2 Ghumarwin
3 Chamba Chamba
4 Bakloh
5 Hamirpur Barsar
6 Hamirpur
7 Bhoranj
8 Kangra Shahpur
9 Deragopipur
10 Yol
11 Palampur
12 Kullu Kullu
13 Mandi Sarakaghat
14 Jogindernagar
15 Mandi
16 Shimla Shimla
17 Rampur
18 Sirmaur Nahan
19 Solan Solan
20 Nalagarh
21 Una Gagret
22 Una
..4/--4-
CSD canteens functional in Himachal Pradesh
S.No District No of URCs
1 Chamba 05
2 Lahual & Spiti 05
3 Kangra 31
4 Una 02
5 Hamirpur 13
6 Mandi 13
7 Kullu 08
8 Kinnuar 08
9 Bilaspur 07
10 Solan 07
11 Shimla 15
12 Sirmaur 03
*****