Dr. Jitendra Singh chairs SCOVA Meet to address Pensioners’ problems
New Delhi, April 12: Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Science & Technology (Independent Charge), Earth & Sciences (Independent Charge), Dr. Jitendra Singh chaired the 32nd meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) in New Delhi on Monday. Pensioner Associations from Jammu, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chandigarh and other parts of the country participated in the meeting.
The issues relating to shortage of doctors in CGHS wellness centers, periodical health check-up of pensioners, nomination issues pertaining to Pensioners for life time arrears, the holding of Pension Adalats and issues pertaining to Grants-in-Aid to Identified Pensioners’ Associations., were raised in the meeting.
Addressing the SCOVA, Dr Jitendra Singh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several revolutionary changes were brought in since 2014 in Pension Rules for bringing “Ease of Living” to the Pensioner. Digital Life Certificates using bio-metrics and the revolutionary Face Authentication technology, the ‘Bhavishya’ online pension processing system and pushing electronic PPOs to DigiLocker, All India Pension Adalats, and a complete Review and Rationalization of CCS (Pension) Rules were some of the important landmark steps taken by the Department. The India Post & Payment Bank was also roped in by the Department to obtain life certificates from the doorstep of Pensioners using the agency of Postman. Secretary, Pensions, Mr. V. Srinivas also spoke on the recent reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Pensions.
After the SCOVA meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh visited the vaccination camp at Lok Nayak Bhawan organized for Pensioners by the Department of Pensions. The vaccination camp was for giving a booster/precaution dose to senior citizens. The Department organized this camp especially for Pensioners so that they don’t have to queue up at other centres. While interacting with the senior citizens being vaccinated Dr. Singh said,” the Department is not only responsible for pension but also cares for the Pensioners’ Welfare in general and that it was a humane gesture from the Department”.