eGovWatch: Digital India gets its first e-pension Adalat to address pensioners grievances

As part of digital India mission, the first digital adalat is being conducted wherein the pension sanctioning authorities and banks have come along with their database to settle the cases immediately if possible.

The first e-pension Adalat of the country and the 138th Defence Pension Adalat was inaugurated at the Naval Base in Kochi by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) Shobhana Joshi, IDAS. The Adalat was organized by the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy and Coast Guard) Mumbai, for redressal of grievances of Defence Pensioners, including Defence Civilians residing in Kerala.

“The adalat received an overwhelming response from Ex-servicemen with over 300 registrations prior to the commencement of the adalat. Spot registrations over the two days is expected to cover the majority of pensioners,” the Navy said in a release here. It said most of the cases are likely to be settled during the course of the adalat. As part of digital India mission, the first digital adalat is being conducted wherein the pension sanctioning authorities and banks have come along with their database to settle the cases immediately if possible.

Shobhana Joshi, in her inaugural address, emphasized the need for speedy disposal of pensioner’s grievances and informed about a number of steps being taken to improve the pension sanction and distribution system such as provision of automated window “suvigya” on the website of CDA (pensions) for easy access of pensioners about their entitlements.She also informed about the pension call centre with toll free number 1800-180-5321 for benefit of defence pensioners. Dignitaries present on the occasion were Rear Admiral R B Pandit, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, K Damayanti, Joint Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare), Rakesh Sehgal Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy), Mumbai, and Rajesh Ranjan, CDA (Pensions), Allahabad.

Pension adalats form an important link between the ex- servicemen and pension sanctioning authorities as it helps ensure a quick solution to problems faced by veteran soldiers and their families with respect to their financial dues. The first such adalat in the country was held in 1987. The last adalat to be held at Kochi was in 2001.