In an effort to make the lives of senior citizens easier, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh on Tuesday announced the government’s decision to extend the deadline for submission of life certificates by central government pensioners till December 31.
In another improvement for the elderly population, the decision was taken in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, a pensioner had to submit a life certificate by November 30 for seamless disbursement of his pension.
Singh said pensioners can submit life certificates during the extended period by any means, including in physical form or digitally using the online system.
A statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said that the pension disbursement by the Pension Disbursing Officers (PDAs) will continue without any interruption during this extended period.
The Minister said that the pension disbursing banks have been advised to continue the due course of COVID-19 while obtaining life certificates and ensure proper arrangements and social distancing measures to prevent overcrowding in their branches.
Singh said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has always sought “ease of living” for all sections of the society, including retirees and pensioners, who have been through all their experience and long standing of service rendered by them. Over the years are the wealth of the country.
Last week, the minister had launched unique face recognition technology for pensioners, the statement said.
The Minister said that the Face Recognition technology for grant of Life Certificates is a historic and far-reaching improvement as it will not only affect the lives of 68 lakh pensioners of the Central Government but also crores of pensioners of the State Governments.
Meanwhile, out of the total 45.78 lakh beneficiaries registered under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme, 18.16 lakh crore belong to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Parliament was informed on Monday.
“As of December 1, 2021, a total of 45,78,524 beneficiaries have been registered under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Pension Scheme, out of which 18,16,592 beneficiaries belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). ” This was stated by the Minister of State for Labor, Rameshwar Teli in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
PM-SYM Pension Scheme is implemented by the Director General (Labour Welfare), Ministry of Labor and Employment through State/Union Territory Governments.
State/UT Governments have constituted State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) and District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) which are entrusted with the task of reviewing and monitoring the progress of the scheme.
PM-SYM Pension Scheme is to provide old age security to the eligible unorganized workers in terms of monthly pension. Workers in the age group of 18-40 years in the unorganized sector whose monthly income is less than Rs. It is not more than that 15,000 are eligible for enrollment under this scheme.
Under the scheme, minimum assured monthly pension 3,000 will be provided to the unorganized workers after they attain the age of 60 years.
In another reply to the House, the minister said that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) provides social security benefits in the form of pension and insurance to the dependents of workers who are members of schemes under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous (EPF). and MP) Act, 1952.
He said that relief in the form of pension and insurance benefits were paid to dependents (widow/children/orphan/nominee/parents) during the period from April 2020 to October 2021.
The total number of beneficiaries entitled to pension due to the death of the scheme member is 1,55,886 who were paid 564.72 crore.
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