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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Modi govt's flagship Atal Pension Yojana meets 10 per cent of target -Kumar Vikram

Modi govt's flagship Atal Pension Yojana meets 10 per cent of target -Kumar Vikram

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published Published on Jan 27, 2016   modified Modified on Jan 27, 2016
-India Today

Concerned over the poor response, the Finance Ministry has asked all state-run banks to extend the date of government contribution till March 31, 2016.

The Centre's flagship pension plan, launched with much fanfare last year, is struggling to stay afloat. It has been able to bring only about 10 per cent of the targeted two crore under its ambit. The Atal Pension Yojana (APY), aimed at ensuring pension for those who have neither employment security nor retirement facilities, seems to have run out of steam right from the start.

Flagged off in June 2015, APY had a target to cover about 20 million people.

Recent data shows even 10 per cent of that target has not been achieved in the past eight months. Since the start of the scheme, banks have enrolled only around 1.90 million subscribers till 16 January.

This, despite the incentives the government provides for new enrolments. For those who enrolled in the scheme before 31 December, the government contributed an amount equal to 50 per cent of the subscriber's contribution, or Rs1,000, whichever is lower.

But now, concerned over the poor response, the Finance Ministry has asked all state-run banks to extend the date of government contribution till March 31, 2016.

"After careful consideration of the feedback from various quarters, the government has decided that the contribution by the Central government of 50 per cent of the total prescribed contribution up to Rs 1,000 per annum, will be available for those eligible subscribers, who join APY before March 31, 2016," said a statement from the ministry.

It also said that the measure is likely to benefit a substantial number of people who have not been able to join the APY and therefore have failed to avail the benefit of the government's contribution.

All state-run banks were told to organise a two-day camp during the last week of December to get more enrolments. It did not make much difference.

While the department has said lack of awareness might be one of the main reasons for the poor response, the BJP said party workers will now spread the message about the benefits of APY.

"Many social security schemes have been launched by the government to benefit the common people and these schemes have been successful. The focus of the party is to create awareness so that more people could benefit from the APY scheme," said BJP national secretary Srikant Sharma.

The other reason for missing the target is that pension schemes do not attract many subscribers due to the late returns. Some feel such schemes serve no purpose after 30 years as the value of rupee is decreasing every day and a mere two thousand or four thousand rupees will be very little after that long a period.

Under the scheme, monthly investments can be done between Rs 42 and Rs 210. This will result in monthly pensions of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 as per the contribution, after a period of 60 years.

APY provides pension support to Indians, especially those who do not have employment security and little or no retirement facilities. The scheme was launched keeping in mind the lower income group. A small investment in APY per month will result in monthly pensions after attaining 60 years of age.

The Modi government had launched many such schemes including the insurance scheme under the Jan Suraksha Yojana, the Jan Dhan Yojana and the Mudra Bank which have received overwhelming response. More than two crore people have been benefitted under the Mudra loan scheme alone.

India Today, 27 January, 2016, http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/modi-govts-flagship-atal-pension-yojana-meets-10-per-cent-of-target/1/580381.html


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