Nagaland govt examining delays in pension, other retirement benefits — Here's what could change

Nagaland is examining delays in pension and other retirement benefits for state government pensioners and is working on digitising the process, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio informed the Assembly earlier this month, PTI reported.

Why the delay in pensions, benefits?

Responding to a query raised by MLA Nuklutoshi on recurring delays in pension, gratuity, the General Provident Fund (GPF) / the National Pension Scheme (NPS), and other retirement benefits, CM Rio said

• Part of the problem is that retiring employees are unaware about compliance procedures and have inadequate guidance about what pension papers and documents to submit, the report added.

• He added that delays also occur when departments issue provisional release orders late, affecting the process of obtaining no-demand certificates.
• In some cases, departments compile pension papers and forward them in bulk to the Accountant General's office, instead of sending them individually, further delaying settlement.
• Under existing rules, pension papers should reach the Accountant General's office at least six months before an employee's retirement to ensure timely finalisation of benefits, the CM explained.
• He said final GPF withdrawals were also delayed because proposals pass through multiple levels of the administration and are sometimes returned due to incomplete documents, including release and sanction orders and, in cases of deceased employees, death and succession certificates.

Nagaland: What could change after digitisation?

According to Rio, the committee would examine the above-mentioned issues and work towards digitisation to reduce procedural delays and errors.

MLA Nuklutoshi said pension was a rightful entitlement earned through years of public service and that delays could cause hardship to retirees, particularly in meeting household and medical expenses. He called for pre-retirement verification of service records, preferably beginning about two years before retirement, along with clear timelines and accountability for pending pension cases.

Nuklutoshi also urged the government to develop a digital, proactive and time-bound pension system, citing online pension tracking and financial management systems adopted by other northeastern states as possible models for Nagaland.

Nagaland logistics training centre for youth

Meanwhile, the Nagaland government on Friday also announced that it has opened a logistics training centre aimed at equipping 400 economically weaker youth annually, with industry-recognised skills and connecting them with jobs in India and abroad, PTI reported.

• The Centre of Logistics Training for Excellence (COLTE), located at Kushiabill in Dimapur, will provide free training, accommodation and food, and at least 20% of its trainees will be women and girls, officials said.
• The centre will train youth in warehousing, supply chain management and logistics technology, enabling them to obtain national certification and access employment opportunities across India and potentially overseas, said Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang, who inaugurated the COLTE.
• MLA and Advisor for Skill Development, Labour and Employment Moatoshi Longkumer said skill development could not be treated merely as training and issuing certificates. “Our objective is to develop skills that are relevant to the economy, and that can lead to employment,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI)