‘Pension Sakhis’ to Drive NPS Enrolment in Rural India
What Happened
The Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have signed an MoU to expand pension coverage in rural India through a network of trained community workers called‘Pension Sakhis’. Leveraging the DAY-NRLM network, including BC Sakhis and self-help groups, these cadres will provide doorstep pension awareness, enrolment assistance, and support, particularly for rural women, SHG members and other underserved communities. The initiative will also use digital tools for monitoring and tracking enrolments.
Key Takeaways
The programme aims to strengthen social security and financial inclusion in rural India by making pension products such as the National Pension System (NPS) more accessible. The government hopes the community-led model will improve retirement planning and pension adoption in villages, especially among women and low-income households.