The government today said as many as 11,390 pension related complaints have been settled in last eight months and a number of innovative measures have been taken to make delivery of pension more convenient.

“One of the major achievements of the Narendra Modi government has been prompt disposal of grievances received from pensioners from across the country. In a brief period of eight months, as many as 11,390 pension related complaints had been settled by the department,” Minister of State (MoS) for Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions (MPPGP), Jitender Singh said here today.

Singh while addressing a meeting of All India Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies of Pensioners (SCOVA) said the present government has announced a number of innovative measures to make the delivery of pension and related documents much more convenient and less time-consuming.

Online life certificates

He also referred to Adhaar-based “Jeewan Praman Package” launched by Prime Minister in November last year which enables the pensioners to register online their life certificates in digital format.

“In this way, it eliminates the requirement for an elderly pensioner to walk all the way to the concerned authorities to deliver a certificate of his being alive,” he said, adding that so far as many as 39,000 pensioners have already availed of the facility of online submission of life certificate.

As part of the significant progressive e-Governance plan, Singh said the Department of Pensions has started a web-based pensioners’ portal which is expected to serve as one-stop information source.

“The information available on the pensioners’ portal will include pension rules, different pension schemes, orders issued from time to time, pension calculation process,” he added.

Online pension tracking system

Highlighting other measures, he said that to avoid delays, an online pension sanction and payment tracking system called ’Bhavishya’ has been introduced.

So far, 25 ministries and departments have already been initiated into this system.

Sankalpa

Similarly, he said, another web-based application called ’Sankalpa’ has been developed which provides a platform for pensioners to access opportunities available for useful interventions in the society.

Fixed medical allowance

Singh also said that fixed medical allowance has been enhanced from Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month, which came into effect from November last, and would provide financial support to the pensioners even after they are superannuated from the government service.

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