Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 25 Nov: District Magistrate Savin Bansal today inaugurated a Pension Awareness and Free Medical Camp at the Main Treasury in Dehradun on the occasion of the State’s Silver Jubilee. To mark the event, he honoured state movement pensioners and dedicated the newly constructed ‘Aarohan’ auditorium, built at a cost of Rs 25 lakhs under the District Plan, for the convenience of pensioners. He also approved the provision of ten new computers to strengthen the technical facilities at the Treasury.
During the camp, Bansal also felicitated veteran state movement pensioners including Gayatri Dhoundiyal, Kaushalya Rawat, Saroj Singh Bahuguna, Rajeshwar and centenarian pensioner Premvati Dobal by presenting them bouquets, shawls and mementoes. He also granted official approval for the Pension Payment Order (PPO) of Gayatri Dhoundiyal on the spot.
Addressing the gathering on this occasion, Bansal said that every elderly pensioner visiting the Treasury must receive their rightful dues with dignity and respect. He emphasised that the Treasury has been made simple, clean and convenient for pensioners. Extending his best wishes for a healthy and fulfilling retired life to the pensioners, he urged them to maintain social interaction, keep alive their interest in reading and to contribute to society with their valuable experiences.
Chief Development Officer (CDO) Abhinav Shah described the Pension Awareness Camp as meaningful and said that similar camps would be organised through sub-treasuries in remote areas of the district so that pensioners living in distant regions can also easily obtain information and benefits.
Chief Treasury Officer Neetu Bhandari shared that when Bansal assumed charge as District Magistrate of Dehradun, he had inspected the Treasury and had directed that it be made simple, clean and pensioner-friendly, along with approving the required budget. Owing to his initiative, facilities such as a facilitation hall, toilets for women and differently-abled persons, a parking shed and the Aarohan auditorium have now been constructed at the Main Treasury office, providing modern amenities for pensioners. Bhandari expressed gratitude on behalf of the Treasury staff and pensioners to the District Magistrate and Chief Development Officer for these infrastructural improvements.
As part of the camp, pensioners were provided free medical check-ups and given information about digital life certificates, cyber security, income tax provisions and medical reimbursement. Under the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign of the Government of India and the State Government, pensioners were guided on submitting life certificates digitally through Android mobile applications from home, biometric devices at the Treasury, postmen or public service centres. The CTO stated that about 21,000 pensioners are currently drawing pensions at the Dehradun Treasury. Training was also provided to encourage more pensioners to submit digital life certificates from home. Elderly pensioners attending the camp underwent medical examinations and received free medicines.
The programme was attended by Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah, Chief Treasury Officer Neetu Bhandari, retired CTO PC Kharre, Pension Union President Omvir Singh, senior Treasury Department officials and a large number of pensioners.
