A residential complex and a block committee in New Town have come forward to help out their elderly pensioner neighbours. They have taken the initiative to help generate their digital life certificate, which is a proof of the pensioner being alive. Submitting this to the pension disbursing authority — bank or post office — every November is mandatory in order to continue getting the pension. This year, the last date is December 31.

The BA Block Cultural and Social Association has bought a biometric thumb impression scanner. “It cost us about Rs 3,000. We just had to install the driver,” said Prabir Mazumdar of the block. “The investment is insignificant compared to the comfort and security we are being able to provide our elderly neighbours who will not have to travel to the bank or the post office amid this pandemic,” he said.

The best part of the initiative is that the block is ready to provide the service to anyone who turns up, irrespective of which block the person is from. A camp will be held again on November 15, from 11 am to 1pm, at the block’s puja venue.

The idea came from block resident Ashish Mukherjee whose company had created the Jeevan Pramaan website through which the digital life certificate is generated. “We do have a couple of banks within walking distance but they are so crowded we are scared to visit them. This is so convenient,” said Tapan Ghoshal, a 68-year-old committee member.

At Jal Vayu Towers, the treasurer of the apartment owner’s association Syed Humayun Siraj got in touch with the State Bank of India branch housed in Ahirini market. The bank held a camp at the housing complex for SBI customers last week.

But I realised that since it was Aadhaar-based it could be extended to others as well,” said Siraj. “So I picked up from a bank official how to do it.” He is now offering the service on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday all November from 11am to 12.30pm. The bank has lent him the device.

Service manager Prosenjit Das of the bank said he had been getting life certificates signed at customers’ doorsteps for the last two years. “This year, we are extending the service till Chinar Park without any service charge to customers of other SBI branches to which I will mail the certificates.” He is ready to train whoever wants to invest in the device and offer the digital life certificate service to his own housing or block pensioners.