The Ministry of Defence recently unveiled SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha), a new scheme set to revolutionize the way in which pension claims are processed and disbursed to defence pensioners.
SPARSH: An Innovative Approach to Defence Pensions
The primary purpose of SPARSH, an integrated system for the automation of sanction and disbursement of defence pensions, is to streamline the pension process for all defence personnel. This web-based system places the focus squarely on the individual pensioners by efficiently processing their pension claims and directly crediting their pensions into their bank accounts, bypassing the need for any external intermediary.
Another feature of SPARSH that promises to be of immense benefit to pensioners is the availability of a dedicated Pensioner Portal. This online platform allows pensioners to access their pension-related information and avail various related services. What’s more, pensioners can even register their complaints through this portal, should they have any.
Providing Accessibility with Service Centres
In a bid to provide ease of access and facilitate direct communication with all pensioners, SPARSH plans to set up Service Centres. These centres are specially designed for pensioners who might face difficulties in accessing the SPARSH portal directly.
The two largest banks dealing with defence pensioners, State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB), have partnered with SPARSH as Service Centres, taking us one step closer to making this vision a reality.
Other Initiatives in Defence Pensions
In addition to SPARSH, other initiatives have also been launched to provide a fair and efficient pension system for defence personnel. One such initiative is the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. This scheme promises the payment of the same pension to military officers holding the same rank and with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. The aim of this scheme is to ensure fair and equal treatment of all defence personnel in terms of pension.
The Ministry of Defence’s latest steps, including the introduction of SPARSH and the implementation of OROP, paint a promising future for defence pensions in the country. With these progressive measures, the ministry is not only making strides towards ensuring ease of access and fairness in the pension system but also working tirelessly to honour the service and sacrifice of our brave military personnel.
