CHQ has addressed the Secretary Department of Posts on the problems faced by the Pensioners in submission of Digital Life Certificates.

AIPRA CHQ has addressed the Secretary Department of Posts on the problems faced by the Pensioners in submission of Digital Life Certificates. A copy of the same email is endorsed to Member (P) too: KR GS AIPRPA

No.AIPRPA / DLC / 2021 Dated 13.11.2021

To

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

Sub: Problems faced in submission of Life Certificate by Postal Pensioners – regarding

The CHQ of AIPRPA is constrained to bring the following problems faced by the Pensioners in submission of Life Certificates during the months of October – November despite the facilities extended by the Government.

The Digital Life Certificate generation through Jeevan Pramaan at our door step by Postman or GDS on payment of the nominal fee is a good system to the old and physically immobile Pensioners. But unfortunately, in cases where the fingerprints of the pensioners are not clear and hence the generation is impossible, the Pensioners are advised to go to a doctor for necessary certificates. The very purpose of inviting door step services is due to the fact that mobility of the pensioner is a problem. This is a wrong procedure and the biometric device carried by the Postal Staff should necessarily include the Iris Testing device too in order to use it if the fingerprints are not working. The very purpose of doorstep visits by the Postman or GDS is defeated by not carrying the Iris testing devices. If carrying the device is not feasible, then a second visit with the Iris Testing device to the same Pensioner’s residence should be undertaken without any extra charge.

Secondly, the Pensioners who come to Post Offices for Pension withdrawal as well as for giving life certificates should not be forced to pay the fee of 70/- as there is no doorstep visit involved in such cases. In some places the Pensioners are forced to pay after visiting the Post Offices.

At present, only HPOs are armed with the Jeevan Pramaan submission facility to generate DLCs. Many of the Sub Post Offices where the Pensioners are drawing their monthly pension do not have the facility. When the doorstep facility could be provided, there should not be any difficulty in providing the facility of Jeevan Pramaan in all the Sub Post Offices. The Sub Post Offices can provide the facility and if not, they should be ready to take physical life certificates from the pensioner and finish the process and to forward the DLC or Physical certificates to the DDOs.

The essence of the issue is that in taking the life certificate, the Pensioners should not be tortured despite the Government extending many facilities in this regard. We request a comprehensive direction to the lower formations in line with the Government’s approach of helping the senior citizens.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(K.Ragavendran)

General Secretary