In a groundbreaking move, Shri V Shrinivas, Secretary of the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW), unveiled the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal of Bank of India on April 26, 2024. This marks a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to ensuring ease of living for pensioners across the nation.
Digital Empowerment: A New Era for Pensioners
The DoPPW has been at the forefront of enhancing pensioners’ welfare through digital initiatives. One of the key elements is the Digital Life Certificate, which simplifies the process of proving a pensioner’s existence for continued benefits. Additionally, the Bhavishya Portal has been instrumental in digitizing the entire pension process.
Bhavishya Portal: Seamless Pension Processing
Since January 1, 2017, the Bhavishya platform has been mandatory for all central government departments. It’s an integrated system that manages pension processing from start to finish, including the issuance of electronic Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) directly into retirees’ DigiLockers. Currently, 98 Ministries/Departments, 870 Attached Offices, and 8,174 Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) are successfully using this system.
A Single Window for All Pension Needs
To address common issues faced by pensioners with banks, such as changing banks or checking life certificate submission status, the DoPPW is integrating the websites of Pension Disbursing Banks with its portal. This integration provides a one-stop solution for services like pension slips, life certificate status, and Form-16.
The Future of Pension Services
The integration of major banks like SBI, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank with the Bhavishya portal is complete. Bank of India pensioners can now enjoy consolidated services through the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal. The plan is to integrate most Pension Disbursing Banks in the near future.
This initiative is not just about technology; it’s about transforming the lives of millions of pensioners in India, making their golden years a little brighter.