By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 14, 2023: TO enhance 'Ease of Living' of Central Government pensioners, Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare has been promoting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) i.e. Jeevan Pramaan extensively.  In 2014, submission of DLCs using biometric devices was commenced. Subsequently, the Department engaged with MeitY and UIDAI to develop a Face Authentication technology system based on Aadhar database, whereby it is possible to submit LC from any Android based smart phone.  As per this facility, the identity of a person is established through face authentication technique and DLC gets generated. This breakthrough technology, launched in November 2021, reduced the dependence of pensioners on external bio-metric devices and made the process more accessible and affordable to masses by leveraging Smartphone-based technology.

With a view to spread awareness amongst all the Central Government pensioners as well as the Pension Disbursing Authorities for use of DLC/Face Authentication technology to submit Digital Life Certificate, DoPPW launched a Nation-wide Campaign in the month of November 2022 in 37 Cities through-out the country. The Campaign was a huge success with more than 35 lakh DLCs of Central Government Pensioner generated.  A Nation-wide Campaign 2.0is now being conducted from 1st to 30 th November, 2023 at 500 locations in 100 Cities across the country, targeting 50 lakh pensioners, in collaboration with 17 Pension Disbursing Banks, Ministries/ Departments, Pensioners' Welfare Associations, UIDAI, MeitY, etc.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare is putting all efforts to create awareness amongst all pensioners regarding DLC-Face Authentication technique by way of banners/posters placed strategically in offices and all Bank Branches / ATMs.  All Banks have created a team of dedicated staff at their branches having downloaded the desired apps in their Android phones that are using this technology extensively for submission of Life Certificates by the pensioners. In case, the pensioners are not able to visit the Branches due to old age/illness/weakness, the Bank officials are also visiting their homes/hospitals for the above purpose.

The Pensioners' Welfare Associations are extending their full support to the Campaign.  Their representatives are motivating the pensioners to visit the nearby Camp locations and submit their DLCs. The officials from Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare are also visiting major locations through-out the Country to assist pensioners in use of various digital modes to submit their Life Certificates and monitoring the progress very closely.

A lot of excitement has been observed amongst all the stakeholders, particularly sick / very old pensioners at all the locations.  As a result, more than 25 lakh Digital Life Certificates have been generated by the end of 2nd week of launch of the Campaign in this FY, out of which about 14,500 pensioners above 90 years old and 1,93,601 pensioners between 80 – 90 years category could submit their DLCs from the comfort of their home/locations/offices/branches.  Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh States are leading the Campaign where aggregating to 6.25 lakh DLCs have been generated during the 2 nd week itself of the month-long Campaign.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare will continue all its efforts for making this Campaign a grand success throughout the country.