Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday emphasized the urgent need for a time-bound redressal mechanism for pension-related grievances, aligning the initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s citizen-centric governance approach. Speaking at the 13th All India Pension Adalat in New Delhi, the Minister declared that “no retiree should have to chase their rights,” stressing that administrative efficiency and empathy must guide pension governance.
The event brought together pensioners, senior government officials, and departmental representatives from across India to address long-pending grievances. Dr. Singh highlighted the success of the Pension Adalat model, calling it one of the most effective and citizen-friendly reforms in recent years. He urged departments to move from reactive grievance handling to a proactive, technology-enabled, and compassionate approach, emphasizing a “whole-of-government” strategy to resolve issues efficiently.
Since the inception of the Pension Adalats in September 2017, 12 sessions have been held nationwide, addressing over 25,000 cases, with 18,157 grievances successfully resolved—a resolution rate of more than 71%. Citing this figure as a testament to the initiative’s success, Dr. Singh also shared moving stories of pensioners like Jasoda Devi, who received her dues after 36 years, and Anita Kanik Rani, who was granted ₹20 lakh in family pension arrears on the same day her case was heard.
At the Adalat, the Minister released a booklet titled “Brave Soldiers and Veer Naariyan”, showcasing success stories from the 12th Pension Adalat. The collection highlights resolved cases, particularly involving defence pensioners and widows of armed forces personnel. Dr. Singh noted that these narratives represent the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity and justice for retired personnel, especially women and family pensioners.
This year’s Adalat centered around family pension issues, with a significant number of cases presented by women, either as claimants or recipients. Dr. Singh commended the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) for focusing on this critical and often overlooked area.
The Minister also stressed the importance of expanding digital access for pensioners unable to attend in person. Initiatives like CPENGRAMS (Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), integrated portals, and real-time grievance dashboards were highlighted as key tools in making grievance redressal faster and more transparent.
Calling for stronger inter-departmental coordination, Dr. Singh urged officials to treat pensioners not just as beneficiaries, but as valued members of the administrative family. “Pension Adalats are not just forums for grievance resolution—they are indicators of administrative accountability and public trust,” he said.
As the Adalats become a regular feature of the governance calendar, they have emerged as a vital bridge between the government and retired central employees, defence personnel, and family pensioners. Dr. Singh concluded by calling for more citizen-centric innovations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring senior citizens are treated with respect, care, and administrative urgency.