The Comptroller General of Communications Accounts (CGCA) of the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) presented its digitization initiatives at IMC-2023. Emphasis has been placed on streamlining operations for telecom licensees and improving services for Telecom/BSNL/MTNL pensioners through two key programmes: SAMPANN and SARAS.
The impact of CGCA initiatives
The Secretary, DARPG received a demonstration of the SAMPANN system and acknowledged that it is successfully facilitating direct payment of pensions to retirees. Several dignitaries visited the CGCA stand during the event and were impressed by the systems and positive changes brought about by SAMPANN and SARAS:
Minister of State for Communications, Sh. Devusinh Chauhan, lauded the systems and encouraged the department to scale up these solutions to improve the lives of pensioners. The Secretary, DOT, recognized the breadth of the systems and appreciated their effectiveness.
Many senior government officials and officials from various TSPs also visited the stand. In particular, the booth facilitated the submission of life certificates using Face Authentication, making the process more convenient for pensioners. Ex-members (Services) and Ex-CMD, BSNL have also submitted their life certificates using Face Authentication Jeevan Pramaan App.
QR codes were provided at the booth for easy access to key resources:
QR codes linked to the LF Handbook for Decentralized Licensees, Simplified Financial Compliance of License Agreements for ISPs and the CGCA website for Revenue Related Orders.
Another QR code has been set up for visitors to provide feedback during IMC-2023. In addition, the booth featured short videos highlighting the features and results of SARAS.
SARAS: Revolutionizing Compliance and Financial Transactions
SARAS offers licensees the ability to make paperless online payments for LF, SUC, Spectrum Auction payments, CAF/EMR fines, testing fees and other fees. SARAS has played a key role in achieving fully digital and paperless submission of declarations, documents, assessments and notices of demand. The platform also offers services such as issuing No Dues Certificates and helping with exit management.
Currently, SARAS serves 2,659 licensees and has facilitated the collection of approximately two crore rupees in revenue.
SAMPANN: Revolutionary processing of pensions
The ‘Pension Accounting and Administration System’ (SAMPANN) project is an online system for the processing and payment of pensions for pensioners of the Institute of Telecommunications. It was inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister in December 2018.
SAMPANN has transformed pensioner service delivery and serves more than four million DOT/BSNL/MTNL pensioners through a single window system. It ensures timely settlement of pension cases, provision of e-Pension Payment Order, access to payment history, online filing of complaints and timely SMS alerts.
To date, SAMPANN has disbursed around Rs. 1,239 million monthly pensions. Notably, SAMPANN resulted in savings of approximately Rs. 44 crore by September 2023, with annual recurring savings of Rs 40 crore to the government.
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