New Delhi: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched a special campaign for the redressal of Family Pension Grievances, organized by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DOPPW). This initiative is part of the 100-day action plan of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
Describing pensioners as vital stakeholders in nation-building, Dr. Singh emphasized that ensuring ease in pension disbursal is not a charity but a duty. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of senior citizens, stating that their expertise and accumulated wisdom could significantly contribute to the nation’s development.
“Providing pensioners with the means to live with dignity is essential, considering the significant socio-economic impact of pensions on the lives of citizens above 60 years,” Dr. Singh said. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support and sensitivity towards pensioners’ initiatives over the past decade.
Dr. Singh outlined the department’s efforts to address various pension-related issues. He mentioned recent amendments, such as allowing divorced daughters to receive family pensions without needing a legal divorce and reducing the waiting period for families of missing employees from seven years to a more reasonable timeframe.
The month-long campaign, spanning from July 1 to July 31, 2024, will focus on resolving 1,891 family pension-related grievances from 46 departments and ministries listed on the CPENGRAMS portal. Noting the significance of this campaign, Dr. Singh highlighted that 25 percent of the 90,000 annual grievances registered on the CPENGRAMS portal are related to family pensions. He also emphasized the importance of a human touch in grievance redressal, mentioning the establishment of a human desk to gather feedback post-disposal.
Dr. Singh further emphasized the priority of delivering government services at the doorstep, mentioning the collaboration between DoPPW and India Post Payments Bank for the Digital Life Certificate campaign. He announced that the Bhavishya portal would soon be integrated with the e-HRMS system, along with relevant rule amendments.
Highlighting the campaign’s benefits for women family pensioners, Dr. Singh said, “This is a positive step towards women empowerment, providing significant relief to childless widows, unmarried, and divorced daughters in the grievance redressal process for family pensions.”
During the event, several beneficiaries shared their positive experiences and thanked the minister and the government for their proactive approach. Dr. Singh also listened to suggestions from pensioners, assuring them that their input would be considered for future improvements.
The launch ceremony was attended by notable officials, including Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, DoPPW and DARPG; Dr. Nitin Chandra, Secretary, Ex-Serviceman Welfare; S.S. Dubey, CGA; Dr. Nitin Agrawal, DG BSF; Shri Dhrubajyoti Sengupta, Joint Secretary (Pensions); and Shri Pravin Raghavendra, Deputy MD, Chief Operations Officer of SBI.