The central government's initiative to simplify the process for pensioners has seen significant success, with over 77 lakh Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) issued across the country by the second week of its launch.
The campaign has particularly benefited senior citizens, with 1,77,153 pensioners over the age of 90 and 17,212 pensioners aged 80 to 90 receiving their DLCs, as per official reports.
The introduction of advanced authentication methods, including face recognition, has played a key role in generating around 24 lakh certificates, making up 34% of the total DLCs issued. This has allowed elderly pensioners to submit their certificates easily from home, or through nearby offices and bank branches.
Leading the charge, State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have successfully issued over 9 lakh DLCs each. Other banks, such as Canara Bank and Central Bank of India, also showed strong participation, generating 1 lakh and 57,000 DLCs, respectively.
Maharashtra has been the top performer, issuing over 10 lakh certificates, followed by Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, each with 6 lakh, while Uttar Pradesh has also performed well with over 5 lakh DLCs.
The nationwide campaign, which runs from November 1 to 30, is being held in 800 cities and towns, with 1,575 camps set up to facilitate the process. To further support this initiative, 1.8 lakh postmen have been deployed across the country.
The program, which started on November 6, is part of the government's efforts to bring more convenience and accessibility to pensioners, aligning with the vision of a digitally empowered India.
"The Jeevan Pramaan initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the digital empowerment of pensioners. A wide range of stakeholders, including pension disbursing banks, government departments, and welfare associations, are all working together to make this vision a reality," the statement added.
To raise awareness, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare has placed banners and posters in offices, bank branches, and ATMs to inform pensioners about the DLC-Face Authentication technique.
In addition, all participating banks have set up dedicated teams to assist pensioners, ensuring that even those unable to visit branches due to age or illness can receive help at home.
