Punjab Government Emphasises Pensioners’ Dignity and Financial Security Amid PSP Delays

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday chaired a detailed review meeting with various banks at Punjab Bhawan to address the substantial backlog of pending issues on the Pensioner Sewa Portal (PSP). Expressing serious concern over repeated delays and missed deadlines, Minister Cheema imposed a strict cut-off date of 31 March 2026 for resolving all pending matters, making it clear that no further delays would be tolerated. During the meeting, Finance Minister Cheema highlighted that banks had previously failed to comply with agreed schedules, which forced the Punjab Government to extend deadlines at their request. “Despite these extensions, major financial institutions continue to have significant backlogs. This is unacceptable. All pending Pensioner Sewa Portal issues must be resolved by 31 March 2026,” he said. Announcing a follow-up review meeting on 15 March, the Minister issued a stern warning: “The Punjab Government will take strict action against any bank that fails to clear all pending matters by the 31 March deadline. Pensioners cannot be made to suffer due to administrative inefficiency.” Minister Cheema also pointed out non-compliance with the Punjab Government’s 31 October 2025 instructions, which mandated that only Digital Life Certificates through Jeevan Pramaan Patra (JPP) be accepted. “Some banks have not fully implemented these directives. To address communication gaps, the government has provided banks with a specific message and template letter. Banks must forward this information through updated contact databases so pensioners are fully aware of mandatory JPP and eKYC requirements. Collaborative outreach is essential for the successful completion of this process,” he said. Emphasising the state’s Door Step Delivery (DSD) initiative designed to help pensioners complete their JPP and eKYC from home, Minister Cheema stressed the importance of active bank cooperation. “Considering the rising risks of cyber fraud and digital security issues, many pensioners may still prefer visiting branches physically. Therefore, branch-level readiness is crucial,” he added. Reinforcing these directives, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Alok Shekhar issued strict operational guidelines. “Banks must upload accurate e-scrolls and promptly address any discrepancies flagged by District Treasury Officers. Delays will not be tolerated,” he said. Alok Shekhar further instructed banks to clear all pending PPO PDFs, approve provisional pensioners, and upload manually submitted life certificates accepted before the 31 October 2025 cut-off in a strictly time-bound manner. He also directed financial institutions to expedite the integration of their internal software with the Pensioner Sewa Portal. Other key administrative tasks discussed included marking Non-Resident Indian pensioners on the portal, uploading their notarised life certificates, and processing all JPP requests pending at the bank level. Concluding the meeting, Minister Cheema reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to safeguard the welfare of pensioners. “All banks must immediately implement necessary system modifications to prevent undue cancellations or erroneous approvals of JPPs. Protecting the dignity and financial security of our pensioners is our highest priority,” he said.