Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 3: People who draw different types of pensions from the government have to furnish their life certificates during November or December each year to the banks where they draw pensions, or to the post offices. It is mandatory to provide Jeevan Praman or digital life certificates.

But in many cases, the thumb impressions recorded in Aadhar cards do not match. In such cases, the old people get worried and run here and there to comply with the requirement as otherwise payment of their pensions will be withheld. The problem of non-matching is high in respect of people who work hard as their fingers have scratch marks and those who are very old.

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There is a provision to get the certificate requirement fulfilled through iris scanners but the banks only have thumb machines. As they do not have iris scanners, the people are facing the need to visit the zonal offices of the Employment Provident Fund to complete the requirement.

Whenever they visit the provident fund offices, they are asked to go to banks. The banks claim they do not have iris scanners and redirect the pensioners to post offices. About 50 per cent of the postmen have been provided with IPPB mobiles but with them too, the problem of non-matching of thumb impression occurs. As there is no alternative, old people are moving from Adhar registration offices to banks.

Commissioner of Employees Provident Fund, Ajai Singh, said that there is time till February 28 for the pensioners to furnish life certificates. They can furnish them at the banks or post offices where they are drawing their pensions, he said. He said that if there is a problem, they can visit the Udupi office of the provident fund. He said that out of about 17,500 pensioners, 10,700 have already provided life certificates.

Udupi district lead bank manager Rudresh said that life certificates can be furnished at any nearby banks. He clarified that the banks as of now have not been provided with iris scanners. He said that in cases where life certificates cannot be furnished due to medical reasons, bank managers visit homes to complete the process.