Indian Army Launches Project NAMAN to Enhance Pension Services for Veterans.
New Delhi:
The Indian Army has inaugurated the first phase of Project NAMAN, a significant initiative aimed at improving support and services for Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families. The launch event, held in the presence of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, and Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), marked the beginning of this vital project.
Project NAMAN focuses on the implementation of SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha), a digital pension system designed to streamline pension-related processes for Defence Pensioners. The initiative addresses the need for accessible facilitation points for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across India, ensuring that they receive the care and support they deserve.
The project, which involves a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2023 between the Indian Army’s Directorate of Indian Army Veterans, Common Service Centre (CSC) e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited, will see the establishment of dedicated reception and facilitation centres. These centres, located at military stations and surrounding localities, offer SPARSH-enabled pension services, Government to Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to Consumer (B2C) services all in one place.
In its first phase, Project NAMAN has set up 14 CSCs at strategic locations across India, including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Saugor, Guntur, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore. The project plans to expand to approximately 200 centres nationwide over the next 2-3 years. HDFC Bank has provided the IT infrastructure, while local military stations have contributed the necessary physical facilities.
Project NAMAN was developed based on feedback from the Defence community, reflecting the Indian Army’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel. Each CSC is managed by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), selected from among veterans or NOKs, who are trained to deliver the required services. HDFC Bank supports these VLEs with a monthly grant of Rs. 20,000 for the first year to ensure the centres’ stability and sustainability.
This initiative not only enhances service delivery to veterans and their families but also creates entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans and NOKs, empowering them to contribute to their communities while receiving essential support.
