The Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Mininster Narendra Modi, the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) is trying to make the pensioners ‘atamnirbhar’. They are doing it by promoting the Digital Life Certificate for pensioners, which can be given from the comfort of one’s home. Earlier, due to the difficulties faced by the pensioners in submitting the Life Certificate because of COVID-19 pandemic, the government has relaxed the existing timeline for submission from November 1 to December 31.
Addressing an interactive session of Bhrahma Kumari Sister Shivani on “Power of thoughts and meditation in COVID-19 pandemic” organised by DoPPW, Dr Jitendra said that the pensioners as senior citizens being the most vulnerable group in the wake of the pandemic need a helping hand and compassionate ears in addition to medical care. “Such programmes will help them to tackle their mental stress level, thus, protecting them from physical illness as well,” added he.
While appreciating the session, he said that senior citizens always have a lot to offer to the society and their valuable experiences can bring positive changes to the society. The key to happiness is being grateful for all that we have.
Endorsing the thoughts on building positivity in life, Dr Jitendra also said, “Lifestyle modifications are must in this period of global health crisis as one should liberate oneself from nagging thoughts. One should add life to the years and not years to the life.”
Dr Kshatrapati Shivaji, Secretary (Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare) and Sanjiv Narain Mathur, Joint Secretary (Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare) along with other senior officials and office bearers of the Pensioners’ Associations were present in this digital event.
The programme was aimed to sensitise senior pensioner on mental well-being during the pandemic. The DoPPW has been taking extra efforts for organising programmes for addressing pensioners’ health issues.