For the second year in a row, the New Town civic authorities, in collaboration with the State Bank of India, have arranged for a life certificate submission camp for pensioners at Snehodiya, the government-run senior citizens’ home. A similar initiative has also been taken by the residents’ association of BA Block in Action Area 1. Both camps commenced on Monday.
Every November, government pensioners have to submit a proof of survival in the form of a life certificate. “Since it gets crowded, in these Covid times banks are limiting entry of customers to the premises. That means elderly pensioners would now have to stand in the sun for a length of time to be able to submit the life certificate in person. So we thought of an off-centric spot to offer this service where you can sit under a shade in queue with a token maintaining distance while sipping the tea served here,” said NKDA chairman and Hidco managing director Debashis Sen.
Ruma Dey, chief general manager, Calcutta circle, SBI, who inaugurated the camp, listed out the number of ways in which a life certificate may be generated, including a new method commencing from the day. “You can go to the bank and fill up the form. You can do it digitally on the website, jeevanpramaan.gov.in, where you can upload your life certificate. This year we have started video life certificate in which you can get your life certificate through a video call from the comfort of your home,” she said. The video call can be made from the cell number registered with the pension account from a smartphone if the pension account and the pensioner’s Aadhar card are linked. One has to log into www.pensionseva.sbi to initiate the video call on weekdays from 10am to 6pm.
The camp, she pointed out, was an initiative of SBI’s New Town Rajarhat branch. “This is an attempt to reach out to pensioners in the area.”
A New Town BA Block resident gets his life certificate details uploaded by a neighbour at the community centre. Sudeshna Banerjee
Sen pointed out that last year, some life certificates submitted at the camp did not materialise. “The applicants had to go to the bank and queue up to get the job done. Let’s hope such technicalities are taken care of.” While applauding the launch of the video call facility to generate life certificates, he pointed out that using a smart phone to get things done online might be beyond the capability of some. “We are grateful that SBI have sent their staff to hold this camp here.”
The first two certificates were generated for Snehodiya residents Manatosh Mandal, aged 87, who retired as deputy managing director of SBI, and Isro scientist Dhruba Basu, aged 79. Several residents from across New Town had also gathered under the shamiana set up on the lawn.
Local initiative
In the tin shed in the block playground that serves as the community centre for BA Block, Prabir Mazumdar along with fellow residents Asish Mukherjee and Snehasish Das have volunteered to upload the life certificate details on the jeevanpramaan website. “Till Wednesday, we have offered the service to 45 people,” said Mazumdar, who is the secretary of BA Block Cultural and Social Association.
The association has the benefit of two desktop computers donated by residents. “One has even given us a printer,” Mazumdar smiled.
“Last year too we had held this camp. Close to 200 people, including from other areas of New Town like Balaka Abasan, and even from Salt Lake had come,” said Pradip Ranjan Das.
Biplab Nandy, 70, was awaiting his turn while chatting with neighbours. “The bank where I have my pension account is in Baisakhi as I used to stay in BA Block in Salt Lake. This service by my neighbours saves me the trip.” He plans to bring his brother-in-law to avail of the service too when he comes for Bhai Phota.