The Railway Employee Health Scheme (RELHS), specifically RELHS-97, provides medical benefits to railway employees, their families, and eligible dependents. Generally, employees need 20 years of qualifying service to join, but this condition is waived for medically invalidated employees and spouses of employees who die in service.
Eligibility:
Serving Railway Employees:All serving railway employees are eligible to join RELHS-97.
Retired Railway Employees:Those who were members of the old RELHS automatically become members of RELHS-97.
Spouses of Deceased Employees:Spouses of railway employees who die while in service are eligible.
Dependents:Family members and dependent relatives as defined under the Pass Rules are eligible for medical benefits, according to Indian Railways. This includes spouses, children (including student, physically challenged, or those working as interns or researchers), unmarried daughters, widowed daughters, divorced/unmarried sisters, stepsons under 21, unmarried stepdaughters, widowed mothers, and brothers under 21 (if the father is not alive).
Private Servants:Private servants of railway employees who are eligible for passes can also receive medical treatment as outpatients and, if space is available, as inpatients at railway hospitals and health units, according to Indian Railways.
Ex-Casual Laborers:50% of the period from "Temporary Status" to "regularization" is counted towards the 20 years qualifying service for joining RELHS-97 for ex-casual laborers.
Medical Benefits:
Free medical treatment:
Railway employees and their eligible dependents receive free medical treatment at railway hospitals and health units.
Reimbursement for treatment:
In some cases, reimbursement for treatment in recognized non-railway hospitals may be available.
Other benefits:
This includes free medical checkups, cost of medicines, hospitalization, and other medical procedures.
