Government of India has introduced a pension scheme for unorganised workers namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) to ensure old age protection for Unorganised Workers.
The unorganised workers mostly engaged as home based workers, street
vendors, mid-day meal
workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers,
cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers,
landless labourers, own account workers, agricultural workers,
construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers,
audio- visual workers and similar other occupations whose monthly income
is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of
18-40 years. They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS),
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’
Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Further, he/she should not be an
income tax payer.
2. Features of PM-SYM: It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, under which the subscriber would receive the following benefits :
(i) Minimum Assured Pension:
Each subscriber under the PM-SYM, shall receive minimum assured pension
of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
(ii) Family Pension:
During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of
the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received
by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only
to spouse.
(iii) &nbps; &&nbps;If a
beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause
(before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and
continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or
exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.
3. Contribution by the Subscriber: The
subscriber’s contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’
facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account. The
subscriber is required to contribute the prescribed contribution amount
from the age of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years. The chart
showing details of entry age specific monthly contribution is as under:
4. Matching contribution by the Central Government:
PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis
where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the
beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government as
per the chart. For example, if a person enters the scheme at an age of
29 years, he is required to contribute Rs 100/ - per month till the age
of 60 years an equal amount of Rs 100/- will be contributed by the
Central Government.
5. Enrolment Process under PM-SYM: The
subscriber will be required to have a mobile phone, savings bank
account and Aadhaar number. The eligible subscriber may visit the
nearest Common Services Centres (CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC SPV))
and get enrolled for PM-SYM using Aadhaar number and savings bank
account/ Jan-Dhan account number on self-certification basis.
Later, facility will be provided where the subscriber can also visit the
PM-SYM web portal or can download the mobile app and self-register
using Aadhar number/ savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account number on
self-certification basis.
6. Enrollment agencies: The
enrolment will be carried out by all the Common Services Centres. The
unorganised workers may visit their nearest CSC along with their Aadhar
Card and Savings Bank account passbook/Jandhan account and get
registered themselves for the Scheme. Contribution amount for the first
month shall be paid in cash for which they will be provided with a
receipt.
7. Facilitation Centres:
All the branch offices of LIC, the offices of ESIC/EPFO and all Labour
offices of Central and State Governments will facilitate the unorganised
workers about the Scheme, its benefits and the procedure to be
followed, at their respective centers.
In this respect, the
arrangements to be made by all offices of LIC, ESIC, EPFO all Labour
offices of Central and State Governments are given below, for ease of
reference:
1. All LIC, EPFO/ESIC and all
Labour offices of Central and State Governments may set up a
“Facilitation Desk” to facilitate the unorganised workers, guide about
the features of the Scheme and direct them to nearest CSC
2. Each desk may consist of at least one staff.
3. They
will have backdrop, standi at the main gate and sufficient number of
brochures printed in Hindi and regional languages to be provided to the
unorganised workers.
4. Unorganised workers will visit these centres with Aadhaar Card, Savings bank account/Jandhan account and mobile phone.
5. Help desk will have onsite suitable sitting and other necessary facilities for these workers.
6. Any other measures intended to facilitate the unorganised workers about the Scheme, in their respective centers.
8.Fund Management: PM-SYM
will be a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour
and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of
India and CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC SPV). LIC will be
the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out. The
amount collected under PM-SYM pension scheme shall be invested as per
the investment pattern specified by Government of India.
9.Exit and Withdrawal:
Considering the hardships and erratic nature of employability of these
workers, the exit provisions of scheme have been kept flexible. Exit
provisions are as under:
(i) In case subscriber
exits the scheme within a period of less than 10 years, the
beneficiary’s share of contribution only will be returned to him with
savings bank interest rate.
(ii) If subscriber
exits after a period of 10 years or more but before superannuation age
i.e. 60 years of age, the beneficiary’s share of contribution along with
accumulated interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings bank
interest rate whichever is higher.
(iii) If a
beneficiary has given regular contributions and died due to any cause,
his/ her spouse will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by
payment of regular contribution or exit by receiving the beneficiary’s
contribution along with accumulated interest as actually earned by fund
or at the savings bank interest rate whichever is higher.
(iv) If
a beneficiary has given regular contributions and become permanently
disabled due to any cause before the superannuation age, i.e. 60 years,
and unable to continue to contribute under the scheme, his/ her spouse
will be entitled to continue the scheme subsequently by payment of
regular contribution or exit the scheme by receiving the beneficiary’s
contribution with interest as actually earned by fund or at the savings
bank interest rate whichever is higher.
(v) After the death of subscriber as well as his/her spouse, the entire corpus will be credited back to the fund.
(vi) Any other exit provision, as may be decided by the Government on advice of NSSB.
11. Default of Contributions: If
a subscriber has not paid the contribution continuously he/she will be
allowed to regularize his contribution by paying entire outstanding
dues, along with penalty charges, if any, decided by the Government.
12. Pension Pay out:Once
the beneficiary joins the scheme at the entry age of 18-40 years, the
beneficiary has to contribute till 60 years of age. On attaining the age
of 60 years, the subscriber will get the assured monthly pension of
Rs.3000/- with benefit of family pension, as the case may be.
13. Grievance Redressal: To address any grievances related to the scheme, subscriber can contact at customer care number 1800 267 6888 which will be available on 24*7 basis(to be effective from 15 Febraury 2019). Web portal/ app will also have the facility for registering the complaints.
14. Doubt and Clarification: In case of any doubt on the scheme, clarification provided by the JS & DGLW will be final.