Lok Sabha Question No. 2657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Swavalamban Schemes
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2657 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## SWAVALAMBAN SCHEMES

## †2657. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- (a)whether  the  'Swavalamban'  scheme  for  unorganised  sector  under National Pension Scheme is still continuing;
- (b)if  so,  the  present  number of registered entities under this scheme and  the  plans  to  expand  this  scheme  further  in  the  unorganized sector  along  with  the  details  of  scheme  which  have  benefited workers under unorganised sector; and
- (c)if not, the reasons therefor of discontinuing the scheme?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (c):   The  new  enrolments  under  Swavalamban  Scheme  have been discontinued with effect from 1 st  April 2015. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)  has  been  launched  in  May,  2015  and  the  enrolments  have started from 1 st  June, 2015. The APY was launched with an objective to move towards creating a universal social security system, targeted especially to the poor and the underprivileged. Subscribers registered prior to 1 st  April, 2015 under Swavalamban Scheme, in the age group of 18-40 years will be auto-migrated to APY unless they opt out. Those subscribers who are above the age of 40 years can either continue in Swavalamban Scheme till they attain the age of 60 years or exit from the  Scheme.  There  are  76  entities  registered  under  Swavalamban Scheme with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority as  Aggregators,  which  service  the  subscribers.  These  entities  are maintaining  their  existing  subscribers enrolled before 1 st  April, 2015,

and have also been advised to assist their subscribers of Swavalamban Scheme in the age group of 18-40 years to migrate to APY by shifting their account into APY through designated Banks/Post offices  where  the  subscribers  have  accounts/proposed  to  open  the account.  Subscribers  who  migrate  to  APY  would  be  serviced  by  the Banks where they maintain their savings Bank account for auto-debit of  the  periodic  subscription  to  APY.  Those  who  continue  in  the Swavalamban Scheme would continue to be serviced by the Aggregators registered with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. Under the Swavalamban Scheme, the Central Government  contributes  a  sum  of  Rs.  1,000  per  annum  in  each National  Pension  System  (NPS)  account  opened  under  the  Scheme where the subscriber is able to save Rs.1, 000 to Rs.12, 000 during a financial year. The Government co- contribution to eligible subscribers is available up 2016-17. Since inception of the Swavalamban scheme, the  number  of  subscribers  who  have  been  given  Government  cocontribution year-wise is given as under:

| Year    | No. of persons receiving Government-co-contribution   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 2010-11 | 301,922                                               |
| 2011-12 | 639,979                                               |
| 2012-13 | 1,101,079                                             |
| 2013-14 | 1,596,600                                             |
| 2014-15 | 20,72,521                                             |

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