Rs. 18 Crore Pension Arrears Disbursed to Armed Forces Veterans and Families in Major Reform Drive.
AFMS resolves long-standing anomalies under compassionate outreach initiative.
New Delhi:
In a major step towards honouring the service and sacrifices of its veterans, the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has successfully disbursed over Rs. 18 crore in pending pension arrears to retired personnel and families of the Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps, and Military Nursing Services.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Medical Personnel Record Section Officers [MPRS(O)] under the aegis of the Director General Medical Services (Army), aimed to resolve deep-rooted anomalies in pension disbursal — many of which had remained unaddressed for years due to legacy system shortcomings.
The campaign brought overdue justice to veterans, widows, and next of kin who were impacted by discrepancies in the implementation of Liberalized Family Pension (LFP), Special Family Pension (SFP), One Rank One Pension (OROP) revisions, and gallantry award-related monetary benefits.
Compassionate Outreach and Digital TTransparence
The effort included an expansive outreach campaign to identify beneficiaries who were unaware of their entitlements. According to Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair, Director General of Medical Services (Army), “Many veterans and their families had no idea they were owed arrears due to legacy system gaps. We have reached out, verified, and ensured what is rightfully theirs has been returned.”
To assist families and streamline disbursement, Personalised Assistance Desks were set up at Defence Pension Liaison Centres in CDA Pune and CDA Allahabad. These centres provided hands-on support with documentation and pension verification.
A significant digital component was introduced through the SPARSH portal, which now offers real-time status tracking and grievance redressal for defence pensioners. Beneficiaries are encouraged to check their pension status online or visit liaison centres for assistance.
Key Highlights of the Initiative:
Rs. 18 crore+ disbursed in arrears to veterans and family pensioners
Resolved anomalies related to LFP, SFP, OROP, and gallantry awards
Personalised outreach identified and assisted unaware beneficiaries
Transparency boosted through real-time digital updates on SPARSH portal
Assistance desks established at key CDA locations for documentation and guidance
This initiative reflects a renewed commitment from the Armed Forces to ensure no veteran or family is left behind due to bureaucratic oversight. The AFMS’s corrective drive not only brings financial relief but also restores dignity to those who served the nation and their families.
For Assistance:
Veterans and family members can verify their pension status and arrears by logging on to the SPARSH portal or contacting MPRS(O) through their nearest Defence Pension Liaison Centre.
