HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Panchkula| Updated: Apr 15, 2015 14:11 IST
To begin with, the service has been introduced for pensioners receiving pension through the treasury. At present, the process of getting a life certificate is time-consuming -marred by red-tapism - and pensioners have to undergo a long-drawn process from submitting of documents personally to the official concerned. As per the norm, to ensure continuity of pension, a pensioner is required to submit a life certificate physically in November every year.
Under the new system, a pensioner will just need to visit the treasury office to give thump impression on a biometric device mapped with one's Aadhaar Card, and the digital life certificate will be generated. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has developed the software.
Deputy commissioner (DC), Panchkula, Vivek Atray, said there were around 50,000 pensioners, of which around 10,000 draw their pension from the treasury, while remaining through banks.
Vivek Atray added, “The new system will save a lot of time of the pensioners, and they will not face any harassment as well. The service will also be made available to those receiving pension through the bank soon.”
The service will be made available at all 34 community service centres (CSC) across the district. Lauding the initiative, Rakesh Aggarwal, general secretary, Lok Saravhitkari Society, said the new initiative would help the pensioners in the district.
The Panchkula administration has also decided to assist elderly people at government offices under the Aadaar-Sammaan Scheme. For this, around 20 volunteers will be deployed at the DC's office, general hospital, municipal corporation office, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) office besides other places of the city. The service will be launched soon.