New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has issued a clarification regarding the non-disbursement of pension to the defence pensioners for the month of April this year.
The ministry said it came to light during the processing of pension for April 2022 that annual identification of around 3.3 lakh pensioners was not updated.
“A list was shared with all Pension Disbursing Banks to share updated identification data, if any, and as a result identification status of more than 2.65 lakh pensioners was updated on SPARSH by April 25, 2022 leading to successful processing of pension for all these pensioners,” the ministry added.
The Defence Ministry said, however, the banks could not confirm identification for 58,275 pensioners and neither was their identification received directly on SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) by the time of monthly closing.
“Hence, these pensioners were not paid their April pension by April 30, 2022,” the ministry added.
The Defence Ministry said a one-time special waiver has been accorded to these 58,275 pensioners to get their identification done by May 25, 2022, in order to avoid hardship to such pensioners.
“The pension for the month of April 2022 has now been processed and pension is due to be credited by end-of-day on May 04, 2022. All such pensioners are being informed about pending annual identification through SMS and email,” the ministry added.
The Defence Ministry said all pensioners must complete annual identification in order to continue receipt of monthly pension, which is usually done in November 2021 by all banks acting as Pension Disbursing Agencies.
“Due to the COVID situation, Government had extended the window for annual identification due on November 30, 2021 up to March 31, 2022,” the ministry added.
The Defence Ministry said SPARSH has been successfully disbursing monthly pension to over five lakh pensioners, including 4.47 lakh pensioners migrated from legacy system to SPARSH (post 01.01.2016 retirees) up to March 31, 2022.
“The Ministry of Defence, including the Defence Accounts Department, is undergoing a major transformation with an aim to bring transparency and efficiency in various processes and procedures,” the release said.