Dr Jitendra hails face recognition technology to generate pensioner’s life certificate

New Delhi, De 11: In a pioneering move, the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoP&PW) has adopted the latest “Face Recognition Technology” for establishing Aadhar-based identification of elderly pensioners, aiming to generate “Digital Life Certificates.” Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted this achievement at a press conference, emphasizing the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for the ease of living and dignity for the elderly.
The Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 2.0 of the DoP&PW focuses on improving pensioners’ welfare through the use of biometric and iris-based Aadhar authentication, along with face recognition technology. Dr Jitendra noted that this step enhances the ease of living for pensioners, allowing them to submit life certificates digitally from the comfort of their homes, replacing the traditional method of physical submissions at banks and post offices.
The DLC Campaign 2.0, conducted from November 1-30, 2023, involved collaboration with Pension Disbursing Banks, Ministries/Departments, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, UIDAI, and MeitY. The campaign covered 597 locations in 100 cities across India, with the active participation of 297 Nodal Officers and 44 Pensioner Welfare Associations.
As a result of the campaign, over 1.17 crore DLCs were generated in November 2023, with more than 19.52 lakh using Face Authentication Technology. Among these, 9.76 lakh face-authenticated DLCs were generated for central government pensioners. Notably, over 24,000 pensioners above the age of 90 used digital modes to submit life certificates for pension withdrawal.
Leading states for DLC generation were Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, while State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank emerged as leading banks for DLC generation. The union minister highlighted the Modi Government’s commitment to Ease of Living, abolishing obsolete rules, and introducing reforms for the welfare of pensioners, including family pension without a service duration bar and benefits for divorced or separated daughters.
In addition to the DLC campaign, the government has implemented various digital initiatives, such as the BHAVISHYA portal for timely pension processing, DIRGHAYU app for prompt pension payments, and integrated platforms for better coordination with banks and grievance redressal.
Secretary, DoP&PW V. Srinivas, emphasized that the nationwide DLC Campaign 2.0 represents a significant milestone in the department’s efforts to ensure the ease of living for pensioners. The success stories emerging from camps and outreach efforts reflect the satisfaction and comfort of pensioners in embracing digital modes for life certificate submission.