Proof of Life certificate submission made easy for Central government pensioners with unique face recognition technology
The unique face recognition technology would serve as a proof of 'life certificate'
The annual requirement of life certificate submission by the pensioners has now become easy with the introduction of a unique face recognition technology by the Central government. To facilitate the online submission of life certificate by the pensioners, the Central government has launched a unique face recognition technology that would serve as a proof of life certificate. This is intended to ensure ease of living for the retired and elderly citizens. All pensioners are mandated to submit their life certificate annually to continue receiving pension. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has already implemented a facility of giving the certificate digitally.
“The central government has been sensitive to the needs of pensioners and to ensure ease of living for them. Soon after coming to power in 2014, the government decided to introduce and implement digital life certificate for the pensioners. This unique face recognition technology will further help pensioners,” the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh said while launching the software.
He said this face recognition technique of giving life certificate is a historic and far reaching reform since it will touch the lives of not only 68 lakh central government pensioners but also those under the EPFO and state governments, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Jitendra Singh thanked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) for devising this technology and making such an initiative of the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) possible.
The minister said the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always sought ‘ease of living’ for all sections of society, including the retirees and pensioners who are the nation’s assets with all their experience and long years of service rendered by them.
He also reiterated that during the coronavirus pandemic too, the Department of Pensions brought about several reforms for release of provisional pension/family pension.
The minister said the Department of Pension has been extensively using technology to achieve this end, be it introduction of digital life certificate, introduction of an intelligent common software ‘Bhavishya’ for all government of India ministries for processing pension cases.
The effort in issuing electronic PPOs and pushing the same in DigiLocker is a huge step towards ease of living and transparency, the minister added.
He said the department has also been bringing out e-booklets for pensioner awareness and carrying out an awareness campaign on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and other social media platforms.
