THE ‘SPARSH’ OUTREACH PROGRAM HELD AT SURYA AUDITORIUM IN LUCKNOW CANTONMENT
Lucknow: Rasika Chaube, IDAS, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) was on a visit to Lucknow and attended as Chief Guest at the SPARSH Outreach Program held at the “Surya Auditorium” in Lucknow Cantonment. The program was organized for the pensioners of the Armed Forces to have a firsthand grasp of the digital initiative. SPARSH is envisioned to provide “Right Pension at the Right Time”. It provides a secure and reliable digital service for all pension related activities and is in sync with the Digital India Vision of the Government of India. The PCDA (Pension) Allahabad is the nodal office for administering & regulating this service.
Chaube, in her address accentuated the need to be proactive in addressing the requirements of the Armed Forces vis-à-vis their pecuniary and pensionary benefits. While highlighting the positives of SPARSH, she emphasized on ensuring fast tracking of grievance redressal mechanism of the senior members of the society. She also noted specific grievances of personnel present on the occasion and directed the Pension office, HODs and Record Offices to take immediate remedial action on the same.
The occasion was also graced by the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Vivek Kashyap, AVSM, VSM, Col YK Gautam, SM from Army Hqrs, AN Das, Senior Joint Controller, CGDA, Mukesh Sinha, PCDA (Pension) Allahabad, JP Pandey, CDA, Central Command, SK Chowdhray, CDA, Regional Training Centre (RTC) and Hari Har Mishra, Integrated Financial Advisor (IFA), Central Command, along with a host of serving and superannuated member from the armed forces.
The attendees were given exhaustive presentation on SPARSH modalities by Himanshu Tripathi, DCDA from PCDA (Pension) Allahabad, to familiarize the endusers with the operational specifics of the module. The user friendliness and the output-oriented nature of SPARSH was exhibited for the clientele to allay their concerns and apprehensions about this IT initiative of Defence Accounts Department.
Rasika Chaube, IDAS, FADS requested the pensioners to take advantage of the outreach program through an on-hand grievance redressal exercise at the Surya Auditorium held by the PCDA(P) Allahabad, wherein the pensioners could provide their representations and grievances personally and have an immediate reply/solution to the issues of their concern. Around 600 pensioners put forward their issues before the officials of the pension office and were provided with solutions on the spot.
Earlier, she also visited one of the “Sparsh Service Centres” situated at PCDA (CC) at Cariappa Marg in Lucknow Cantonment, where the pensioners are assisted in accessing and utilizing the services of the SPARSH portal. Chaube also directed the officiating officers & staff to be extra vigilant and compassionate while addressing the grievances of visiting pensioners.
