All arrangements in place for Amarnath Yatra: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said all arrangements, including security, have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which begins early next month. Singh expressed confidence that the pilgrimage, scheduled to start on July 3, will be successful.

“The yatra this time is for a longer duration, and the administration has taken care of everything, including from the security point of view. We are confident that the yatra will be very successful,” the minister told reporters here. 

The remarks from Singh, who is the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, came following the inauguration of the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare at the SKICC here.

The minister said the Central Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has focused on improving the ease of living of every section of society over the past 12 years.

“As you know, the number of senior citizens in India is increasing day by day. There was a time when the number of employed people was high, and pensioners were few, but now it has reversed. When they retire at 60, their expertise, experience, skill, and knowledge are also at their peak in their own way. It should not be wasted,” he said.

Keeping this concept in mind, Singh said workshops of this kind have been started across the country.

“Even after retiring, in whichever field or sector they have expertise, they can continue to play their role, as PM Modi says that every citizen has a role to play in building a developed India by 2047,” he added. The minister said the Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been included in the list of banks disbursing pensions for central Government employees.

“After J&K became a UT, all the employees of the Government of J&K, who used to be the State Government employees, are today Central government employees. This department looks after them,” he said.  “Keeping that in mind, J&K Bank has been included in the panel of the disbursing banks through which pension is disbursed to the retired employees,” he added.

Singh said an MoU has been signed because most of the salary accounts in the Union territory are with the J&K Bank.

“I think this is a new beginning which will provide ease to this 60-plus section. We have used face recognition technology. That era is over now, when they had to visit a doctor to furnish their life certificate every year. They can now put their energy and time to better use,” he added.