New initiatives in Pension Welfare: Nationwide campaign for submission of Digital Life Certificates

way2barak, Nov.2: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, PG and Pensions announced a Nationwide Campaign for Submission of Digital Life Certificates and use of face authentication app by Pensioners in the month of November. He said “in Amrit Kaal Period, a Digitally Empowered Pensioner would enable creation of a Digitally Empowered Nation.” Dr. Jitendra Singh said submission of Life Certificates is an important activity to be carried out by pensioners every year in the month of November (with special provision for pensioners aged 80 years and above to submit their Life Certificates in the month of October) to ensure continuity of their pension. In the traditional mode, pensioners had to present themselves before the Pension Disbursing Authority for physical submission of their Life Certificate which was inconvenient, particularly for the old, ailing and infirm pensioners. Further, there was no mechanism for the pensioners to get a status regarding updation of their Life Certificates in the records of the Pension Disbursing Authority.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that to enhance ‘Ease of Living’ of Central Government pensioners, Government has been promoting use of Digital Life Certificate i.e. Jeevan Pramaan extensively. Initially submission of DLCs using biometrics was commenced. Subsequently the Government developed a Face-Recognition technology system based on Aadhar database whereby it is possible to give a DLC from any Android based smart phone. This reduced the dependence of pensioners on external bio-metric devices and made the process more accessible and affordable to masses by leveraging smartphone-based technology.

Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the nation-wide campaign for the month of November 2022 and urged all pensioners to avail the facility of Face Authentication technology. He said that the Pension Disbursing Authorities have been issued directions for promoting the use of DLC/Face Authentication technology. Detailed guidelines in this regard have been issued to the various Ministries/ Departments of Government of India as well as to Banks to reach out to the maximum number of pensioners to avail the service. All CGHS Wellness centers/Dispensaries/Hospitals have also been requested to set up camps in their premises for this purpose. In addition, Pensioners Associations have also been sensitized to hold camps for pensioners for DLC submission.

Dr. Jitendra Singh announced 2 new initiatives for Pensioner’s welfare on this occasion:

1. The Government will initiate efforts for universalization of the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal as Bhavishya 9.0 version, with the aim of enhancing “Ease of Living” for the Central Government Pensioners by incorporating various stand-alone Portals of Pensions department and 17 Pension Disbursing Banks’ portals so as to provide multiple services from a single window with a single login. On completion of all phases of this integration the retirees can choose a Bank and Branch for opening an online Pension Account, check their monthly pension slips, Form 16, Status of Life Certificate as well as change their Pension Disbursing Bank through BHAVISHYA. State Bank of India is the first pension disbursing Bank to integrate its Pension Seva Portal with BHAVISHYA on October 18, 2022. The process of integration with all the remaining 16 Pension Disbursing Banks has commenced and shall also soon be complete.
2. The National Anubhav Awardees Webinar Series to be launched by DoPPW from November 2022. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that on the directions of the Prime Minister of India, in March 2015, ANUBHAV is a means for retiring employees to showcase significant achievements made and their contribution in enhancing the effectiveness of the various Government policies during their service period through write-ups submitted on the Portal. Selected write-ups are awarded with a Medal, a Certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. The Department of Pensions and Pensioners Welfare will be launching the National Anubhav Awardees Webinar Series which will be held on a monthly basis and will feature two Anubhav Awardees/ webinar as speakers to share their experience and to motivate/raise awareness among retiring employees on filling up their own experiences on the Anubhav Portal. It is envisaged that this culture of documenting administrative history of the Nation through office leaving notes by retirees on ANUBHAV portal will become the foundation stone of good governance and administrative reforms in future.