Lok Sabha Question No. 2650 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Beneficiaries under PM-SYM
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2650 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## BENEFICIARIES UNDER PM-SYM

## 2650. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the  details  of  the  total  number  of  workers  enrolled  under  the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) scheme since its launch in the country and the number of active subscribers as on date in Tamil Nadu;
- (b)the  details  of  the  total  contributions  collected  and  the  total pensions disbursed by the Government under the said scheme;
- (c)the details of the percentage of beneficiaries from rural, unorganized  and  marginalized  communities  and  the  measures taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  women  workers  are adequately covered;
- (d)the reasons for accounts of the beneficiaries becoming inactive or lapse  and  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to improve its retention and increase their participation in the said scheme;
- (e)the details of the progress in linking PM-SYM beneficiaries with other social security schemes and welfare initiatives;
- (f)the  details  of  the  financial  literacy  and  awareness  programmes conducted by the Government to educate workers about PM-SYM and their effectiveness in increasing enrollments; and
- (g)the details of the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place to  assess  the  scheme's impact  on  social  security  coverage, retirement benefits and financial inclusion for unorganized sector workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (g): The total number of unorganised workers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Scheme as on 04.03.2026  is  52,49,582  (including  bulk  registration  of  5,06,603 beneficiaries for the period 2019 -20). Further, the number of active beneficiaries in the State of Tamil Nadu is 21,551.

The 50 percent matching contribution of the Government under the PM-SYM Scheme across the country is Rs. 1837.46 crore. Pension to the beneficiaries will start after attaining the age of 60 years.  Since  the  scheme  was  launched  in  February,  2019,  the disbursement of pension will start not before February, 2039.

The scheme  primarily targets unorganised workers, including  street  vendors,  domestic  workers,  construction  workers, agricultural labourers and other informal sector workers. A significant proportion of the beneficiaries belong to rural areas and economically vulnerable sections.

As the PM-SYM Scheme is contributory in nature, 50% of the contribution is borne by the beneficiary through auto-debit from his/her bank account and the remaining 50% matching contribution is provided by the Central Government.

The major reasons for accounts of beneficiaries becoming inactive or lapsing under the scheme are as follows:

- (i) Unorganised workers often have fluctuating or seasonal incomes, which leads to missed monthly contributions and eventual dormancy of accounts when contributions remain unpaid for more than three months and within three years.
- (ii)  Contributions  are  generally  deducted  through  the  auto-debit facility from the subscriber's bank account. If the account does not have sufficient balance at the time of debit, the contribution fails and may lead to inactivity over a period of time.
- (iii) If the linked bank account becomes inactive, closed or changed without  updating  the  details  in  the  scheme  records,  auto-debit  of contributions cannot take place.

The steps taken by the Government to monitor the scheme, improve retention and increase enrolments include the following:

- (i) Holding periodic review meetings with States/UTs.
- (ii) Providing incentives to Common Services Centres (CSCs) for enrolling eligible beneficiaries under PM-SYM.
- (iii) Launch of new features such as Voluntary Exit, Revival Module,
- Claim Status and Account Statement.
- (iv) Extension of the revival period of dormant accounts from one year to three years.
- (v) Two-way integration of PM-SYM with eShram portal.
- (vi) Conducting SMS campaigns for awareness generation.

(vii) Addressing Chief Secretaries of States/UTs regarding enrolment under the PM-SYM Scheme.

(viii) Organising a nationwide special registration drive for enrolment of unorganised workers under PM-SYM as under:

- Phase -I: Urban Areas from 15 January 2026 to 15 February 2026 -completed.
- Phase
- -II: Rural Areas from 16 February 2026 to 15 March 2026.

The  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  launched  the eShram Portal on 26.08.2021 for the creation of a comprehensive, centralised  national  database  of  unorganised  workers,  including platform workers and migrant workers. The portal enables workers to  register  on  a  self-declaration  basis  and  provides  them  with  a Universal Account Number (UAN).

In  keeping  with  the  Budget  Announcement  2024 -25  to develop eShram as a One-Stop Solution for unorganised workers to access various social security schemes, the Ministry launched the eShram  'One -StopSolution'  on  21  October  2024.  This  initiative entails integration of different social security and welfare schemes on a single portal, i.e., eShram, enabling registered workers to access schemes and view benefits availed by them through the portal.

So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/Departments have been integrated with eShram to extend benefits and access to social security, insurance and skill development programmes to eShram cardholders across the country. These include Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit Bharat -Guarantee  for  Rozgar  and  Ajeevika  Mission  (Gramin)  (VB-GRAMG), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN),  One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), etc.

Apart  from  the  above,  eShram  has  linkages  with  the National Career Service (NCS) for job opportunities, Skill India Digital Hub  (SIDH)  for  skill  development,  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) for pension benefits and the convergence portal of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

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