Jeevan Pramaan adds to pensioners' woes
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 27 2017:
Even though the State Government launched Jeevan Pramaan scheme within its 100 days programme for the convenience of pensioners and family pensioners, the same scheme has ironically multiplied the troubles faced by pensioners .
As per the guidelines of the scheme, Common Service Centres (CSCs) recognised by the IT Department should charge only Rs 10 for making Digital Life Certificate (DLC) of pensioners.
But CSCs have been charging Rs 100 to Rs 200 for making DLCs but they are refusing to give any receipt for taking the inflated charge .
Earlier, pensioners go to Treasury concerned offices every six months and get themselves photographed to show that they are alive.
This did not entail any expenditure.
Even if pensioners could not come to Treasury Offices due to ill-health, officials went to the pensioners' homes and took photographs .
For aged pensioners and family pensioners, it was a big trouble to go to Treasury offices every six months .
Rather than reducing their troubles, Jeevan Pramaan scheme has only multiplied the woes of pensioners .
Under Jeevan Pramaan scheme, pensioners are not required to go to Treasury offices every six months but they must update their DLCs every six months at CSCs .
Some people say that pensioners can update their DLCs at their own homes but they should have computer/laptop, finger print scanner etc and they must download a particular software of Jeevan Pramaan.
All these equipments would require minimum investment of Rs 30,000-40,000 .
Many pensioners are now complaining that the Jeevan Pramaan scheme entails a lot of expenditure and they are also compelled to go to CSCs every six months .
They have also expressed their preference for the earlier system even though they must go to treasury offices every six months.