Along with rest of the country, Nagaland on Tuesday launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme for workers in unorganised sectors. It was formally launched by chief secretary Temjen Toy at a function organised by the labour & employment, skill development and entrepreneurship department at secretariat conference hall here.
Speaking on the occasion, Toy regretted that in spite of many schemes being launched in the country, Nagas did not take advantage of all these. He appealed to the gathering to think of their own people, especially those who are into earning daily wages, as the scheme targeted them.
Explaining that PM-SYM was meant for workers in unorganised sectors, he said it was announced during the presentation of Union budget on February 1. He urged everyone to spread the news as the scheme was very good for those in the unorganised sectors.
The chief secretary said though the labour and employment department was the nodal agency for its implementation, every responsible individual should spread the news, adding the scheme would meet its objective only when it reached “our own people”.
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Kohima branch manager Shelphomran Khaling, who too was present on the occasion, spoke about PM-SYM scheme and said the scheme was introduced under Section 3(1)(c) of the Unorganised Workers Social Security (UWSS) Act, 2008 which mandated the Central government to formulate and notify suitable welfare scheme for workers in unorganised on matters relating to old age protection.
He said PM-SYM was voluntary and periodic contribution-based pension system meant for unorganised workers with income up to Rs 15,000 per month and eligibility criteria age was between 18 and 40 years. He said the scheme provided a fixed pension of Rs 3,000 after an individual attained 50 years against a monthly contribution of a small and affordable amount during his or her working age.
Further, he said after the policy holder’s death (after age of 60 years), the spouse was entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension.
Khaling explained that another important feature was that if a policy holder had made regular contribution and died due to any cause (before 60 years), his/her spouse would be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by paying regular contribution.
Stating that the matching contribution would be funded by Government of India 100%, he added that the PM-SYM would be administered by Union labour ministry in partnership with LIC, which would be the pension fund manager and responsible for pension payout.
For enrolment, he said interested eligible persons could visit the Common Service Centre (CSCs) along with Aadhar card, savings bank account and cash for enrolment under the scheme.
Project officer, directorate of labour, T Chubayanger asserted that the UWSS Act, 2008 provided social security and welfare for the unorganised workers, adding the unorganised workers were those who did not have a definite income and lived by the daily wage they earned.
He said people with a definite income, but below Rs 15,000, could also join the scheme.
According to him, though the labour & employment department was the nodal agency for implementing the scheme, it would only act as facilitator to educate the people and help identify workers of the unorganised sectors. He added that all the enrolments would be done in CSCs.
Chubayanger said CSCs had already enrolled 260 beneficiaries across the State and that the enrolment was still going on.
The programme was chaired by labour & employment, skill development & entrepreneurship department commissioner & secretary Anenla T Sato.
Meanwhile, Toy also distributed PM-SYM pension cards to some of the beneficiaries present on the occasion.
Heads of departments and assistant heads of departments also witnessed live streaming of the launch programme by Prime Minister of India.