Jagdish R Sharma
Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department issued a circular on 8th July 2024 for physical verification of Pensioners /family pensioners. This circular has sent shock waves among the pensioners and other stakeholders. They question the physical verification through treasury Officers during the digital era. Trade union leaders have upped their ante against the circular. Communist leader Tarigami has also come in support of the pensioners. The circular stated that “As per the provisions laid down in the J&K Treasury Code Volume-I every pensioner/family pensioner either drawing pension from the Treasury or J&K Bank Business Unit is supposed to present in person before the Treasury Officer, once in a year, for physical verification.
There is no denying the fact that this circular is largely to verify the genuineness of pensioners and to stem any rot in the system. This circular is fraught with inconvenience and mental agony for those who served the Jammu Kashmir Govt in various capacities. In this era of information technology, such things seem obsolete as technology is being used suitably to ease the burden on mankind and facilitate the common man’s life. Alternative and feasible modes should have been tried before issuing this directive for the pensioner’s physical verification and to weed out unscrupulous elements if any. Most of the Govt. services are available online nowadays. From refilling gas cylinders to obtaining a passport, Govt has made the system easy and comfortable. Even the attendance of the employees is also being taken on a Biometric Aadhaar-based called Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS). It is a time and attendance management tool that uses biometric authentication to record the attendance of the employees.
Though pensioners above the age of eighty years and those who are disabled have been given relaxation to appear before the treasury officers for physical verification, many steps could have been taken to simplify this cumbersome process.
The official website portal of the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions and the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare has issued some guidelines to its pensioners.
The guidelines say “Every Central Government pensioner has to submit Annual Life Certificate in November for further continuation of pension. It has been observed that a large number of Central Government pensioners physically visit bank branches for this purpose.”
It further states that “For annual life certificate, you should appear before your PDA ( Pension Disbursing authority)in November every year. In case, you are unable to appear due to bodily illness or infirmity, you can submit your life certificate duly authenticated by any of the specified authorities. You also have the option to submit your digital life certificate using your Aadhar card-based authentication through Jeewan Pramaan. In case of NRI pensioners/family pensioners who are unable to come to India for personal identification may be allowed pension/family pension based on a certificate to be issued by an authorized official of the India Embassy/High Commission of India or Consul of India consulate in the country where the pensioner is residing. This certificate is to be issued on verification of Pensioner/Family Pensioner on the basis of photograph pasted on the Passport or any other such document. Otherwise, the pension may be stopped”
The pensioner has to furnish the life certificate issued by an authorized official of the Embassy/High Commission of India or Consul of Indian Consulates or a Notary Public or an Officer of an Indian Authorised Bank attached to its branch in the country where the pensioner is residing, once in a year, in November.
Why not a Digital Life certificate?
Getting a digital Life certificate is hassle-free and can be obtained through various Jeevan Pramaan Centres which are being operated by CSCs, Banks, and Government offices, or by using the client application on any PC/mobile/tablet. You can download the PC/Mobile/Tablet application to register for a Life Certificate. There is a simple process; just Download the application to register for a Life Certificate.
You can submit the digital life certificate online or via doorstep banking. The Central Government has established various avenues for the submission of life certificates. Among these options is the digital life certificate, known as Jeevan Pramaan, which can be easily generated online or via a mobile app.
Who is eligible for a digital life certificate? All those who have Aadhar are eligible to avail of this facility.
What is Jeevan Pramaan/Digital Life Certificate (DLC) ? Jeevan Pramaan is a biometric-enabled Aadhaar-based Digital Life Certificate for pensioners. Jeevan Pramaan i.e. DLC (Digital Life Certificate) is generated for individual pensioners using his/her Aadhaar number and Biometrics. This is a very simple and hassle-free process based on Biometrics; hence accurate and non-cumbersome.
I have been using this Digital Life Certificate to avail LIC Policy pension every year online and without visiting the LIC branch. LIC people earlier were reluctant that I should visit their branch, for physical verification. However, after going through various journals and websites, I got the opportunity to download the Jeevan Paramaan app. Then, I verified my biometrics credentials through AAdhaar and generated a Digital Life Certificate. Since then all is going well and I am getting my annual dues from LIC annually after submitting renewal DLC.
How to submit a life certificate online for lic policy? Alternatively, you can download the LIC Jeevan Saakshya app. The steps to fill out the certificate through the app are as follows: Download the app from the app store on your supporting gadgets. Enter the policy details and documentation along with your Aadhar details.
I had a nightmarish experience in the office of RTO Jammu, in 2022. RTO and his staff were not aware of the IT Act 2000 or were not willing to adhere to the guidelines Ministry of Surface Transport. The officials delayed the registration of the vehicle with the BH series as they were reluctant to accept digital signatures. They were pressing for seal and signatures. After some valid arguments and unwanted documents in support of the IT act, they accepted the digital signatures after a week, entailing a penalty for no fault on our side. What can be expected from other departments?
Jammu Kashmir Finance Department can opt for or create any mode that synchronizes with time and technology. In this era where Artificial Intelligence is doing unfathomable jobs, the technology can be put to use to remove bottlenecks in the system and make it convenient for all the stakeholders. The obsolete modes have to be replaced with the much-advanced technology so that any cumbersome work is made user-friendly. All these initiatives require an honest intent and dedicated approach. We have efficient and dedicated officers at the helm of affairs who can do the job perfectly. Arthur C. Clarke, a renowned Author has wisely said ” Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic”. There is no limit to magic, as necessity is the mother of inventions. Let us ponder over it and make the wonders happen.
(The author is Formerly Principal JK Education Department)
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