Key Points:
- Unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters can now avail health benefits and travel passes after parents’ death
- Daughters receiving secondary family pension will be considered integral part of railway family
- Free treatment, medicines, and medical facilities at railway hospitals under RELHS-97
- Universal Medical Identity Cards (UMID) to be issued on priority basis
- Widow pass will now transfer to eldest eligible daughter instead of expiring after mother’s death
- Facility implemented in North Central Railway (NCR) zone, will be strictly enforced
- Railway Board clarifies dependency criteria, ending discrimination against daughters
Indian Railways has taken a significant step for the welfare of its employees’ families, announcing that unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters of railway employees will be able to avail health benefits and travel passes even after the death of their parents. This move will provide relief to thousands of economically weaker families who depend on pensions or other government benefits. According to a Business League report, under the previous system, after the death of a railway employee, their widowed wife received a ‘widow pass’ and free medical facilities under the Retired Employees Liberalized Health Scheme (RELHS). However, after the wife’s death, these facilities were not extended to dependent daughters, forcing them to make repeated visits to hospitals and railway offices.
Free Medical Facilities for Eligible Daughters
The Railway Board has now clarified that daughters receiving secondary family pension will be considered an integral part of the railway family. They will be provided with free treatment, medicines, and other medical facilities at railway hospitals. The Directorate of Health has confirmed that unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters who meet the dependency criteria will not be excluded from this scheme. Universal Medical Identity Cards (UMID) will also be issued on a priority basis to ensure seamless access to medical services.
Travel Pass Benefits Transferred to Daughters
Indian Railways has also made a major change in travel facilities, addressing a critical gap in the previous policy. Previously, the widow pass expired after the wife’s death, but now it will be transferred to the eldest eligible daughter in the family. Other dependent members will also be able to travel using this pass, provided they are eligible according to the rules. This will allow daughters to travel across the country without incurring additional expenses, providing significant financial relief to families already dealing with the loss of their primary breadwinner.
Implementation in the NCR Zone and Union Support
Shashikant Tripathi, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway (NCR), said that this facility has been implemented in the NCR zone and will be strictly enforced. R.D. Yadav, General Secretary of the North Central Railway Men’s Union, said that this demand had been pending for a long time from the employees and their families. According to experts, this will not only empower women but also improve the social image of the railways. The recent circular and clarifications issued by the Railway Board make the RELHS-97 and pass rules more liberal, ensuring dependent daughters can avail health and travel facilities without any discrimination.
