Jammu, July 19: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday underscored the pivotal role of pensioners and elder citizens in shaping India’s future.
Addressing the 54th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop in Jammu, Dr Singh said the government is committed to simplifying pension disbursal procedures using advanced technologies to ensure ease of living for pensioners.
Organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, the workshop aimed to equip retiring government employees with essential knowledge about pension processes and post-retirement benefits.
The Union Minister called for adopting facial recognition technology for issuing Digital Life Certificates (DLC) to prevent fraud and enhance convenience for pensioners.
“The government is leveraging the latest technologies to minimise delays and improve administrative procedures related to pensions,” he said, highlighting the initiative’s role in enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
Acknowledging the expertise of retiring employees, Dr Singh called for their integration into ‘Team India’, aligning their contributions with national development goals envisioned for a developed India by 2047.
Underlining recent reforms, Dr Jitendra said, “The government has eliminated colonial-era laws and introduced citizen-centric governance, ensuring increased transparency and accountability.”
He announced expanded pension entitlements, including provisions for divorced daughters, widows, and spouses of missing or disappeared government servants, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir.
The workshop featured sessions on various topics including the BHAVISHYA Portal, Integrated Pensioners Portal, Retirement Benefits, Family Pension, CGHS facilities, Income Tax Rules, and investment opportunities. These sessions aimed to inform retiring employees about procedural requirements and available benefits post-retirement.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the success of CPGRAMS, an online grievance redressal platform, highlighting its emulation by other countries like Bangladesh, the Maldives and South Africa.
The Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop, attended by approximately 250 retirees expected to superannuate in the next nine months, is part of the government’s efforts towards ‘Ease of Living’ for pensioners.
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare said it remains committed to organizing such workshops to facilitate a smooth transition for Central government retirees.
