-Dr Singh emphasises, calls for NIS services to be adapted to meet population’s changing expectations
SENIOR Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has called on the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to adapt its services to the changing expectations of the population, stressing that modernisation must go beyond simply introducing new technology.
Dr Singh made this call while delivering the feature address at the NIS’ recent anniversary general meeting, where he outlined the need for the scheme to improve how it interacts with contributors and pensioners.
He said the ongoing drive to digitise the NIS should not be viewed solely as a technological exercise, but as part of a broader effort to ensure that the scheme continues to provide quality service to the people it serves.
“This is not just about technology,” Dr Singh said.
He went on to add that the NIS must also respond to changing expectations of what constitutes good-quality service.
Under the digitisation drive, contributors are expected to have greater access to NIS services without having to visit an office.
Dr Singh said persons should be able to apply for registration digitally, while employers and self-employed persons should be able to submit their monthly returns electronically.
It should also be possible for contributions to be paid digitally, while contributors should be able to access their contribution records online.
Against this backdrop, he outlined plans for claims to be submitted and tracked digitally, allowing contributors to follow the progress of their claims without having to make repeated visits to NIS offices.
Dr Singh said such changes are important as the scheme seeks to respond to the needs of the people it serves, particularly elderly and vulnerable persons.
The finance minister also pointed to the existing facility allowing pensioners to receive their payments directly into bank accounts, which he said removes the need for pensioners to line up at the NIS and subsequently visit a bank to access their monies.
He used the occasion to highlight the facility for pensioners to submit their life certificates through WhatsApp, noting that such measures are a part of efforts to make NIS services more convenient.
The wider push for modernisation, he said, should therefore focus not merely on introducing digital systems, but also on ensuring that those systems translate into better and more convenient services for contributors and pensioners.
