NEW DELHI: In a move that is sure to ease the lives of pensioners across India, the government on Wednesday launched a web portal that will help around 12 lakh government pensioners track the status of their pensions online.
The site will also help in resolving grievances by accepting them through SMS as well as monitor receipts online.
Launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Web portal will work by enabling central civil pensioners, family pensioners and freedom fighter pensioners to view their complete pension profile digitally on http://www.cpao.nic.in, and removing much of the red tape associated with solving pensioners’ issues.
“Nobody should be harassed, least of all pensioners because they are mostly senior citizens. And they need that resource and their life depends on that resource. So any delay or red tapism can actually cause a lot of harassment if not destitution,” said Jaitley during the launch.
The website can also be accessed through mobile devices and provide an option to pensioners for their feedback. The portal was launched alongside the inauguration of the ‘Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan’ - the new official premises of the Office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
Jaitley also said that government money cannot be indefinitely parked in schemes as it leads to inefficiencies and impedes growth. Speaking at the inauguration of a web portal for pensioners, he further added that the release of government money should be calibrated with utilisation and it cannot be allowed to lie idle with states.
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS), also known as Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System (CPSMS), tracks the fund disbursement and ensures that state treasuries are integrated with Centre to ensure as and when money is required.
“Each one of the technological advancements that you have made in PFMS which predominantly deals with the expenditure of the government under the central sector schemes all over the country and states, integrating the two so that we are able to trace out and track the money that is meant for a particular purpose is being spent for that purpose,” Jaitley added.
However, “the new building is designed and constructed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and conforms to new norms of a green building and for energy conservation. A grid integrated solar panel system is also planned to be installed for harnessing solar energy,” the finance ministry statement said.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also signed between the O/o Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), India aimed at strengthening the Internal Audit function in line Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.