Jammu Kashmir Bank, Centre Join Hands to Expand Retiree Benefits, Pensioner Services | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In a move aimed at strengthening pension-related services and improving accessibility for retirees across Jammu and Kashmir, JK Bank and the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), Government of India, on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand digital pension services and enhance last-mile delivery mechanisms for pensioners in the Union Territory.

The collaboration was launched on the sidelines of the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) Workshop and the 13th Bankers’ Awareness Programme held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

The MoU was signed by JK Bank Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee and DoPPW Joint Secretary Dhrubajyoti Sengupta in the presence of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, Secretary DoPPW Nivedita Shukla Verma, JK Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and senior officials from the government and banking sector.

Speaking at the event, Jitendra Singh said governance and pension reforms introduced by the Narendra Modi-led government over the past 12 years were increasingly benefiting employees and pensioners in Jammu and Kashmir following the region’s transition into a Union Territory.

He said the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir had significantly increased the number of Central Government employees in the region, creating initial administrative and service-delivery challenges that have since been progressively addressed through coordinated efforts of the government and associated institutions.

“The welfare, dignity and ease of living of pensioners have become central to policy making,” Singh said, adding that pensioners in Jammu and Kashmir were now benefiting from a series of citizen-centric reforms that had transformed pension administration across the country.

Referring to the partnership between JK Bank and DoPPW, the Minister said the initiative would strengthen service delivery systems and help a larger number of pensioners access pension-related services and reforms with greater convenience.

Under the agreement, JK Bank’s pensioners’ platform will explore integration with DoPPW’s Integrated Pensioners’ Portal, enabling retirees to access a range of pension-related services through a single digital interface. The initiative is expected to improve accessibility, simplify procedures and enhance overall service delivery.

JK Bank Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee said the bank remained committed to serving pensioners with care, dignity and convenience.

“This collaboration reflects our shared vision of leveraging technology to make pension-related services more accessible, seamless and efficient. We are confident that this initiative will further enhance the banking and service experience of pensioners across the Union Territory,” he said.

Addressing the workshop, Chatterjee also highlighted the bank’s specialised products for pensioners and senior citizens, including doorstep banking services, dedicated customer support arrangements and digital initiatives designed to improve convenience and financial security.

During his address, Jitendra Singh highlighted several pension reforms introduced by the Centre over the last decade. He said the Bhavishya platform had enabled end-to-end digitisation of pension processing, while Pension Payment Orders are now integrated with DigiLocker to provide paperless and transparent access to pension documents.

The Minister also described Digital Life Certificates through Face Authentication Technology as one of the government’s most successful reforms, allowing pensioners to submit life certificates from home using mobile phones without visiting banks or offices.

He said the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign conducted in November 2025 recorded more than 1.91 crore certificates, including over 1.16 crore generated through face authentication technology.

Singh further noted that grievance redressal mechanisms such as CPENGRAMS, National Pension Adalats and thematic review systems had improved the resolution of pension-related complaints. Reforms relating to family pension, additional pension, retirement benefits and cases involving missing employees had also strengthened social security safeguards for pensioners and their families, he said.

The Minister acknowledged the contribution of Jammu and Kashmir’s Central Pensioners’ Associations, describing them as valuable partners in the transition process. He said the associations had actively assisted the government by highlighting issues faced by pensioners and suggesting practical solutions.

He also emphasised the importance of the Anubhav platform, which encourages retiring employees to document and share their experiences, innovations and best practices. Welcoming the launch of the Anubhav Scheme 2026, he said it would recognise exemplary contributions made by retiring government employees.

The workshop brought together pensioners, employees nearing retirement, government officials and representatives of pension-disbursing banks to discuss pension reforms, grievance redressal mechanisms, digital services and financial awareness initiatives aimed at empowering pensioners in an increasingly digital environment.

Calling upon retiring employees to remain engaged in nation-building, Jitendra Singh said senior citizens and pensioners possess valuable experience and institutional knowledge that can continue to contribute to India’s development and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.