Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav launched the ‘Donate-a-Pension’ initiative under ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan’ (PM-SYM) pension scheme where a citizen can donate the premium contribution of their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers, caregivers, nurses, in their household or establishment.

Under the scheme, the donor can pay contributions on behalf of the helper for any length of time. Hence, this initiative will allow the employer to secure the future of the ones who ensure one's daily functioning.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) scheme

• In the Union Budget 2019-20, the government proposed to launch ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan’ for the unorganised sector workers with monthly income upto Rs 15,000.

• The enrolment under the scheme started in February 2019 and was formally launched by  on March 5, 2019.

• It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme.

• It is available to all unorganised workers in the age group of 18 years to 40 years with monthly income not exceeding Rs 15,000. 

• The workers in the unorganised sectors contribute around 50 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

• The unorganised workers are mostly engaged as home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, head loaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers, audio-visual workers and similar other occupations.

• The worker should not be a member of New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and he should not be an income tax payee.

• It is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the ministry of labour and employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.

• The monthly contributions of the beneficiaries range from Rs 55 to Rs 200 per month depending upon their entry age. The equal matching contribution is also being paid by the central government. 

• Under the scheme, the contribution amount for the first month is being paid in cash and subsequent month’s contribution is auto debited through linked bank account.

• Enrolment to the scheme is done through the Common Service Centres (CSCs).

• As on Novermber 25, 2021, nearly 46 lakh unorganised workers have been registered under this scheme.

Key features of the scheme:

1) Minimum monthly assured pension of Rs 3,000 shall be provided after attaining the age of 60 years. 

2) During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50 per cent of the pension as family pension.

3) If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal of the money with interest as applicable in the scheme.

• The central government has taken several initiatives to increase the enrolment under PM-SYM scheme, such as periodic review of the progress of the scheme with states/UTs, publicity of the scheme through Information, Education & Communication (IEC) activities, constitution of State Level Monitoring Committees (SLMC) and District Level Implementation Committees (DLIC) to ensure mobilisation of beneficiaries through state governments.

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