The Ministry of Defense has recently rallied the stakeholders of the System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) to refine its user experience. This effort is part of a broader framework, including strategies like the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which mandates equal pension payment to military officers holding the same rank and length of service, regardless of their retirement date.
Understanding SPARSH
SPARSH marks a significant step in automating the sanction and disbursement of Defense pensions. This integrated system operates online, processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defense pensioners, eliminating the need for an external intermediary.
Pensioner Portal: A Window to Relevant Information
To make information easily accessible, a dedicated Pensioner Portal has been established. This portal allows pensioners to view their pension-related information, access services, and register complaints if they encounter any issues.
Objectives of SPARSH
A key objective of SPARSH is the creation of Service Centres. These establishments aim to provide last-mile connectivity to pensioners who are unable to access the SPARSH portal directly. Designed with the defense pensioners in mind, SPARSH offers a completely transparent view of their pension account through its online portal.
Furthermore, SPARSH seeks to address the current challenges in the pension sanctioning and disbursement process, like decentralized solutions existing in silos, manual intervention in processing, and a lack of centralized information for addressing pensioner queries.
The Benefits of SPARSH
Beyond merely improving accessibility, SPARSH also brings several technical advancements to the table. It offers pensioners an option to use enabled services for faster processing of requests and signing declarations, thus providing a truly paperless and hassle-free experience.
Additionally, SPARSH maintains a comprehensive record of events and entitlements of the pensioner from the date of the commencement of the pension until its cessation due to the last eligible beneficiary. In this way, it ensures that a complete history of the pensioner’s account is always accessible.
One Rank One Pension Scheme
The OROP scheme and SPARSH are part of the same initiative aimed at improving pension accessibility and payment processes for military officials. The OROP ensures that military officials of the same rank and length of service receive equal pensions, regardless of their retirement dates.
These initiatives reflect a concerted effort by the Ministry of Defense to streamline the pension system, making it more beneficial and user-friendly for defense pensioners. And with continued commitment to improvement, they promise a more transparent and efficient process for those who have served their country.
Source: PIB