Citizens first: Aapki Poonji Aapka Adhikar drive to return unclaimed savings
Gandhinagar: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched Aapki Poonji Aapka Adhikar in Gandhinagar, a nationwide drive to help citizens reclaim unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, mutual fund balances, and pensions. Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai joined her, along with senior officials from RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, and the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Sitharaman said the campaign carries a simple promise: every rupee saved by citizens must return to them. She described unclaimed amounts as the hard-earned savings of ordinary families, not just paperwork. Returning them, she stressed, supports education, healthcare, and financial security.
From awareness to action
The Minister explained that the campaign rests on three pillars — Awareness, Accessibility, and Action. Awareness spreads knowledge on tracing assets. Accessibility introduces digital tools and district outreach. Action ensures transparent and time-bound claim settlements. Together, these pillars connect citizens and institutions, allowing claims to close with dignity and ease.
She praised the role of regional rural banks, including Gujarat Gramin Bank, whose KYC and re-KYC drives kept people connected to accounts and entitlements. This groundwork, she said, created momentum for the campaign. Sitharaman also urged institutions to maintain the same dedication so no citizen is left behind. During the launch, she handed certificates to people who successfully reclaimed their unclaimed deposits.
Support from Gujarat leaders and Union ministers
Kanubhai Desai called the national launch from Gujarat a matter of pride. He promised full state support and emphasised that unclaimed deposits, once returned, can finance education, empowerment, and other essential needs.
In a message, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the campaign. He described it as a collective effort to strengthen public trust, dignity, and empowerment. Shah also invited citizens to participate actively.
Scale of unclaimed assets
DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju reported that by August 2025, banks had transferred ₹75,000 crore in unclaimed deposits to the RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. He added that insurance companies held over ₹13,800 crore in unclaimed proceeds, mutual funds around ₹3,000 crore, and listed companies more than ₹9,000 crore in unpaid dividends. Officials noted that nearly 172 crore shares had moved to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).
Nagaraju insisted that institutions must process claims quickly and fairly. “Minimise hurdles so citizens leave confident and informed,” he said.
Nationwide rollout October to December
The campaign will run in every district of all States and Union Territories from October to December 2025. Digital demos and helpdesks will guide citizens in tracing and filing claims. The DFS will coordinate the effort, bringing RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, and IEPFA together with banks, insurers, mutual funds, and pension funds on one platform.
Sitharaman concluded that Aapki Poonji Aapka Adhikar gives real meaning to financial inclusion. “Access to services must end with recovery of rightful savings. The goal is simple — information, access, and swift action so every rupee finds its owner,” she said.
