In a significant step to support Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families, the Indian Army has launched Project NAMAN. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, and Mrs. Sunita Dwivedi, President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), inaugurated this vital project.

Streamlining Pension Services with SPARSH

Project NAMAN focuses on providing dedicated services to Defence Pensioners through the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha) digital pension system. This system simplifies pension-related processes and ensures Veterans and their Next of Kin (NOK) have easy access to facilitation points across India.

Importance of Project NAMAN

General Dwivedi emphasized that Project NAMAN plays a critical role in offering comprehensive care to veterans and their families. The project extends essential services to all residents of military stations and nearby areas. This initiative shows the Army’s commitment to supporting its personnel even after retirement.

Establishing Reception and Facilitation Centres

The core of Project NAMAN lies in setting up reception and facilitation centres. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in September 2023 by the Indian Army’s Directorate of Indian Army Veterans, Common Service Centre (CSC) e-Governance India Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited. These Common Service Centres (CSCs) cater to Army Veterans, Pensioners, War Widows, and NOKs, offering SPARSH-enabled pension services, Government to Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to Consumer (B2C) services in one location.

Nationwide Expansion of CSCs

In the first phase, the Army established 14 CSCs at key locations across India, including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, and Bangalore. The project plans to expand to 200 centres nationwide over the next 2-3 years. HDFC Bank provided the necessary IT infrastructure, while local military stations contributed the physical facilities.

Supporting Veterans Through Entrepreneurship

Project NAMAN was developed based on extensive feedback from the Defence community. The Army selected Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) from veterans or NOKs to manage these centres. These VLEs receive comprehensive training to deliver the required services. To ensure the stability of these centres, HDFC Bank provides a monthly grant of ₹20,000 for the first 12 months.

A Commitment to Welfare and Community

Project NAMAN not only delivers crucial care and support to veterans but also serves the entire military community. It creates entrepreneurial opportunities for Veterans and NOKs, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society. This project highlights the Indian Army’s dedication to the welfare of its veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the support they deserve.