NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said, ever since Prime Minister NarendraModi took charge in May 2014, a series of pension reforms had been introduced, one after the other, with a sensitive concern for elder citizens and women in particular.
Latest technology tools were employed to seek ease of living for these sections of society, he said.
Chairing the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) and 10th Nation-wide Pension Adalat in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Department of Pension is constantly engaged in formulating policies for achieving the goal of women empowerment thereby ensuring a dignified life and ease of living for women.
Dwelling on the Women-Centric reforms in the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, Dr Jitendra Singh said, orders were issued wherein a divorced daughter, in whose case a decree of divorce was issued after the death of her parents, will be eligible for family pension if the divorce petition was filed before death of the parents.
Similarly, the Minister said, the families of missing employees covered under NPS can now get a family pension within 6 months of lodging FIR and not wait for 7 years after which the employee is deemed dead. Even in cases where the Government servant dies before completing a service of 7 years, family pension shall be payable to the family at an enhanced rate of 50% of last pay for the first 10 years and thereafter @ 30% of last pay.
Even the pension for Divyangs were resolved to bring ease of living for all, the Minister added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Department of Pension under Prime Minister NarendraModi has become the Department of Reforms with huge social implications.
He asked the SCOVA body which consists of 15 non-official members, representing Pensioner Welfare Associations and Official Members to come out with suggestions and new ideas for the benefit of the department.
The Minister informed that it was on his suggestion that a single pension form was introduced instead of the earlier practice of three forms.
Referring to JeevanPraman (Digital Life Certificate) launched by the Prime Minister in November,2014, Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that it provides an option to pensioner for submission of Digital Life Certificate online, anytime and from anywhere.
