The Government of India is extremely concerned about the old age income security of the working poor. To encourage and enable them to take care of their old age, Atal Pension Yojana (APY)has been launched by Government of India in the year 2015 which is being administered and regulated by PFRDA. Though more than 31 lakh subscribers have joined the scheme in past one year, the support of State Governments is very crucial to expand the coverage of the scheme to all the eligible persons across the country. State Governments have many unorganized sector workers associated with various departments like Labour, Health, Rural, and Agriculture etc. who are not covered under any formal old age social security scheme.

All the State Governments have been requested by PFRDA to consider registering such workers under APY as it is a guaranteed pension scheme of Government of India. APY paves the way for securing the old age income by saving regularly a small amount during the earning phase of life. The unorganised workforce attached with various State departments like Anganwadi, ASHA workers, Construction workers, Agriculture workers, MGNNREGA workers etc can be extended APY. The respective State Governments are also requested to co-contribute additional amount in the scheme along with the subscribers’ regular contribution. The amount contributed by the State Governments will enable enhanced pension to the subscribers at the age of 60 years. State Governments like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have already notified APY and are also co-contributing for the eligible subscribers of the State between ₹ 500- ₹ 1000 per annum.

Atal Pension Yojana expansion: states urged to register unorganised workers and co-contribute to enhance pensions. PFRDA requests State Governments to enrol unorganised sector workers attached to state departments under Atal Pension Yojana to extend old-age income security; it urges states to consider co-contribution alongside subscriber payments to enable enhanced pension benefits payable at age sixty, noting some states have already notified the scheme and provided annual co-contributions for eligible subscribers.