New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at empowering citizens and promoting financial inclusion, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a nationwide campaign to return ₹1.84 lakh crore worth of unclaimed financial assets to their rightful owners. The initiative, dubbed “Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar” (Your Money, Your Right), was inaugurated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and is expected to run for three months, with extensive outreach across banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and provident fund offices.
The Finance Minister emphasized that these unclaimed funds are safely held under the government’s custody and urged citizens to come forward with proper documentation to claim their money. “You come when you want with proper papers. Money will be given to you. The government is the custodian for it,” she said, underlining the government’s commitment to returning these assets promptly.
According to the Department of Financial Services (DFS), a large portion of these unclaimed funds belongs to individuals or families who have either forgotten about their accounts or have failed to update their records. The government hopes this campaign will bridge the awareness gap, enabling citizens to reclaim their rightful dues and prevent these assets from lying dormant indefinitely.
To facilitate the process, the DFS has collaborated with the Reserve Bank of India’s UDGAM portal, which serves as a centralized platform for citizens to check and claim unclaimed assets. The portal is designed to simplify procedures, allowing users to verify entitlements and submit necessary documents for disbursal. Financial institutions across the country are also participating, ensuring that the process is efficient and secure.
Beyond recovering funds, this initiative reflects a broader government effort to strengthen financial transparency and trust. By ensuring that citizens can access their unclaimed wealth, authorities aim to reinforce confidence in the banking and financial system while simultaneously addressing a long-standing issue of dormant assets.
Citizens are encouraged to visit the UDGAM portal or contact their respective banks, insurance companies, or provident fund offices to determine whether they have unclaimed assets. The government has urged individuals to prepare the necessary documentation to streamline claims, ensuring that funds are disbursed swiftly and accurately.
The campaign is expected to unlock a massive pool of dormant wealth, returning it to its rightful owners while boosting financial literacy and inclusion across India. With ₹1.84 lakh crore at stake, the initiative is being hailed as a landmark effort to bridge gaps between citizens and the financial system.