Newly Introduced Defence Pension Payment system namely SPARSH

Details for registration number : PMOPG/E/2022/0316087

Name Of Complainant M B CHANDRAN MENON

Date of Receipt 28/11/2022

Received By Ministry/Department Prime Ministers Office

Grievance Description

Respected Sir,

The Newly Introduced Defence Pension Payment system namely SPARSH which aims at transferring the Pension disbursement from the DPDO & CPPC covering every nook & corner of the Nation to a centrally formed Authority located at Allahabad under PCDA Allahabad. It was Supposed to be a well-Planned arrangement after Proper homework & setting up of sufficient infrastructure to deal with such large number of veterans after educating the illiterate and semiliterate Veterans, Widows and Veer naris living in remote villages.

The Software used for SPARSH programme beyond any doubt is s sophisticated one developed by TCS but fails to understand the educational background of the beneficiaries who are the ultimate users. Even the Designated officers posted at servicing centres are not conversant with this software. Many unwanted messages are sent to veterans showing their spouse as dead & showing Ranks lower than held by them.

Adding to their Vows the major nightmare is Aadhar ceding with SPARSH PPO. It does not accept Aadhar with a slight difference in name due expansion of initials, addition of surnames but insists for same Alphabets as recorded in PPO. It is to be noted that the Record offices have shortened many long names while in service to suit their convenience. One such example is a name Rakesh Kumar Sharna is likely to be written as R K Sharma in PPO whereas in their Aadhar Card mostly based on their Educational and state revenue records shows his full name as Rakesh Kumar Sharma is being rejected by SPARSH. The same Aadhar Card when used for ceding with Pan card and Voters ID card is getting accepted.

It is to be noted that Aadhar Card is Mainly based on Biometric Matching rather than Alfa numeric matching. We have no objection to cede Aadhar with PPO but the above unwanted nightmare force us to think about its locus standi in the light of HSC Judgement in WPC(C) 494/2012 Dated 26/092018 which clearly Directs UOI that Aadhar cannot be made compulsory for ‘Employee Pension”.

Many octogenarian & ailing veterans are not able to submit their Life certificate due mismatching of names in Aadhar with SPARSH PPO which is likely to cause the stoppage of their Pension.

As you are aware once such Nightmare happened which caused the stoppage pension of more than 50,000 veterans which appeared Newspaper reports.

On being taken up the issue with PCDA Allahabad, they suggested vide their letter No SPARSH ARMY/PBOR/11331/2022 dated 16/11/2022 Is to Change the Names in Aadhar card (Enclosed). It reminds us of a situation where a shoes seller ask the client to Reduce the size of his legs to fit into the size of shoes available with him. It is once again brought to your kind attention that Aadhar Card is Prepared with Personal data available with State revenue authorities as per Educational certificates issued by the state, if the name is changed in Aadhar Card as per PPO as directed by PCDA official, it may invite many legal Problems with state revenue Authorities in respect of Ration card, title deeds, state Govt benefits, Educational reservation for children and other social benefit schemes for which Aadhar has been made Compulsory by HSC.

In view of the above difficulties faced by veterans, before approaching the CJI, we would like to Approach our Hon Prime Minister who is trying his level best to bring transparency in administration, appeal to issue necessary instruction to PCDA Allahabad for making necessary changes in SPARSH software for accepting the Biometric details of Aadhar as issued by UIDAI. We are sure that our Hon’ble Prime minister will investigate this nightmare faced by veterans by coming to our help.

M b Chandran Menon

(EX-SERVICEMEN)

Current Status Under process

Date of Action 30/11/2022

Officer Concerns To

Officer Name Shri Vedveer Arya (Addl. Financial Advisor and Joint Secretary)

Organisation name Defence Finance

Contact Address Room No 539, O/o the AS and Addl. FA R and D, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi-110011

Email Address vedveerarya.dad@hub.nic

Contact Number 01123010159