The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is all set to host the Anubhav Awards 2023 Ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 23, 2023. This annual event aims to recognize and celebrate the exceptional write-ups and contributions of retired government employees who have shared their valuable experiences and insights.
The Anubhav Portal, launched in March 2015, was initiated at the behest of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to create an online platform for retiring and retired employees. It allows them to submit and showcase their commendable work, share their experiences of serving in the government, and provide valuable suggestions for the betterment of governance.
“Since its inception, the Anubhav Portal has witnessed enthusiastic participation, with 96 Ministries, Departments, and Organizations registering and more than 10,000 write-ups published. These write-ups are a treasure trove of knowledge, offering unique perspectives and insights from individuals who have spent their careers in public service”.
This year, the Anubhav outreach program saw a remarkable increase in the number of submissions, with 1901 Anubhav write-ups published. This achievement, the highest number of published write-ups since the portal’s launch, is a testament to the success of the campaign aimed at encouraging retiring and retired employees to share their experiences.
In recognition of their exceptional contributions, four Anubhav Awards and nine Jury Certificates will be conferred. These awardees represent eight different Ministries, Departments, and Organizations, showcasing the diversity and depth of experience in the government.
“To encourage wider participation and appreciation for the effort, for the first time, nine Jury Certificates will be awarded. These certificates aim to acknowledge the valuable contributions of those who may not receive an Anubhav Award but have shared their experiences and wisdom”.
The Anubhav Awardees will receive a Medal, a Certificate, and a cash prize of Rs.10,000, while the Jury Certificate winners will be conferred with a Medal and a Certificate. These recognitions symbolize the government’s commitment to appreciating and preserving the institutional knowledge and wisdom of its retirees.
In addition to the Anubhav Awards, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is actively involved in initiatives to enhance the lives of pensioners. This includes organizing Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) Workshops, which provide retiring employees with vital information about retirement benefits and sanction processes.
The All India Pension Adalat has emerged as an effective platform for resolving pension grievances. Conducted by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, this initiative has seen the resolution of a significant number of grievances, improving the lives of pensioners.
In the upcoming ceremony, a Thematic All India Pension Adalat will be conducted to address pending Pension Payment Order cases across various Ministries and Departments. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring pensioners receive their due benefits.
“Moreover, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is taking significant steps to streamline pensioner-related services. It has launched the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal, which integrates various portals related to pensioner services. This integration aims to provide a seamless experience for pensioners, making services such as change of bank, life certificate submission, pension slip retrieval, and more easily accessible”.
The portal now includes facilities provided by Pension Disbursing Banks, such as the State Bank of India and Canara Bank, with Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda also integrated into the system. These facilities include accessing monthly pension slips, checking the status of life certificates, and more.
In addition to these developments, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will be organizing the Nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign 2.0 in November 2023. This campaign aims to enable 70 lakh Central Government pensioners to submit their life certificates. DLC camps will be held in 500 locations across 100 cities in collaboration with 17 banks.
“As part of this campaign, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will launch the National DLC Portal on October 23, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The portal will serve as a centralized platform for monitoring and ensuring the success of the campaign”.
The Anubhav Awards, Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshops, and pension grievance redressal initiatives all reflect the government’s commitment to supporting and appreciating its retired employees. These efforts are a testament to the belief in the value of the wisdom and experiences of those who have dedicated their careers to public service.
