Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema launches Pensioner Sewa Mela and Sewa Portal to help retirees with digital registration and pension services.

Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, the Punjab Finance Minister, declared  that state pensioners will be able to register on the recently opened Pensioner Sewa Portal in three months. The statement was made at the District Administrative Complex in SAS Nagar during the opening of the three-day Pensioner Sewa Mela.

The ‘Pension Sewa Mela’ is being held in all districts of Punjab from November 13 to 15 to help pensioners with portal registration, he further informed the media.

More than 5,320 pensioners throughout the State were able to successfully register on the portal on the first day alone. The Finance Minister promised that representatives from the Finance Department and Pension Disbursing Banks will attend all district-level events to promptly address any technological concerns in order to guarantee a seamless registration process. He underlined that assistance with registration would always be accessible through Sewa Kendras, pension disbursing institutions, District Treasury Offices, and home delivery services made possible by the Sewa Kendras. Crucially, the Minister made it clear that pension payments will go on regardless of any technological issues retirees may have when registering.

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Launched on November 3, the Pensioner Sewa Portal seeks to provide all pension-related services straight to the homes of retirees. The portal initially provides five main services: submitting a Digital Life Certificate through the Jeevan Pramaan mobile app; converting a pension to a family pension; registering grievances related to pensions; requesting leave travel concession (LTC); and updating or changing personal information.

The Minister explained that Non-Resident Indian (NRI) pensioners will continue to submit their Life Certificates using the present processes and are not currently eligible for the Pensioner Sewa Portal’s initial deployment. He promised that NRI pensioners would soon have access to similar digital amenities. The Directorate of Treasuries and Accounts has established a special War Room for the Pension and New Pension Scheme in order to guarantee the timely resolution of any issues that may arise after the portal’s introduction. In addition, three hotline numbers—1800-180-2148, 0172-2996385, and 0172-2996386—have been set up to help seniors with their questions and complaints. On all working days, these helplines are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.