Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said all preparations have been completed for the smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is set to begin on July 3.
He said the administration has made adequate arrangements, including security measures, and expressed confidence that the pilgrimage will be conducted successfully.
Speaking to mediapersons, Singh said this year's yatra will continue for a longer duration and authorities have taken every necessary step to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims.
The minister was in Srinagar to inaugurate the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare at SKICC.
During the event, Singh said the Narendra Modi government has worked over the past 12 years to improve the quality of life for people from all sections of society. "As you know, the number of senior citizens in India is increasing day by day. There was a time when the number of employed people was high, and pensioners were few, but now it has reversed. When they retire at 60, their expertise, experience, skill, and knowledge are also at their peak in their own way. It should not be wasted," he said.
With this objective, the government has started pre-retirement counselling workshops across the country to help retirees remain active and engaged. He said retired individuals can continue contributing in areas where they have expertise, helping in the country's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
The minister also announced that Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been added to the list of banks authorised to disburse pensions to Central government employees. He said that after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory, many government employees came under the Central government's pension framework. The inclusion of J-K Bank will make pension-related services more convenient for them.
He said an MoU has been signed as a large number of salary accounts in the Union Territory are maintained with J-K Bank. He described the move as an important step towards making life easier for senior citizens. He also highlighted the use of face-recognition technology for pension-related verification.
Singh said pensioners no longer need to visit doctors or offices every year to submit life certificates. Instead, technology has simplified the process, saving both time and effort.
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