Pensioners and elder citizens essential stakeholders in making developed India by 2047; Dr Jitendra Singh

Dr. Singh praised the success of CPGRAMS, an online platform for lodging grievances, which has inspired similar systems in Bangladesh, the Maldives, and South Africa.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of pensioners and elder citizens in India's development by 2047. At the 54th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop in Jammu, he highlighted the government's efforts to simplify pension procedures, enhancing the ease of living for beneficiaries to enable their contribution to nation-building.

Dr. Singh underscored the use of advanced technology to minimize delays and streamline administrative processes related to pensions. The government aims to leverage the expertise of retiring employees to build a 'Team India' focused on achieving a developed nation.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, significant administrative reforms have been implemented, replacing outdated rules to promote citizen-centric governance with increased transparency and accountability. Notably, divorced daughters, widows, and spouses of missing or disappeared government servants in J&K are now eligible for pensions.

Facial recognition technology is being utilized to issue Digital Life Certificates (DLC) to pensioners, reducing fraud and saving time. Additionally, the government has introduced human intervention in Artificial Intelligence to gather feedback through a 'Human Desk' initiative.

Dr. Singh praised the success of CPGRAMS, an online platform for lodging grievances, which has inspired similar systems in Bangladesh, the Maldives, and South Africa.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare regularly conducts Pre-Retirement Counselling workshops to assist officials nearing retirement. These workshops provide comprehensive information on retirement benefits and pension processes. Sessions cover the BHAVISHYA Portal, Integrated Pensioners Portal, Retirement Benefits, Family Pension, CGHS, Income Tax Rules, ANUBHAV, Digital Life Certificates, and investment planning.

The workshops aim to ensure a smooth transition for retiring employees, keeping them informed about government initiatives and post-retirement benefits. About 250 retirees expected to retire in the next nine months will benefit significantly from these sessions. The Department remains committed to facilitating a comfortable transition for Central Government retirees.