SHILLONG, March 5 - Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today launched the Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme here. However, such Central schemes are facing roadblocks as a vast majority of the population has not yet enrolled under the Aadhaar.
Central schemes such as the PM-SYM require Aadhaar cards, but the people have been averse to enrolment under Aadhaar due to superstitions and issues related to privacy.
�In Meghalaya, less than 30 per cent of the population have Aadhaar cards. In the rest of the country, the Aadhaar coverage is more than 90 per cent,� J Lyngdoh, State Head of Common Service Centre (CSC,) said.
�For this scheme, Aadhaar is mandatory. In the rural areas people do not have the Aadhaar cards. So there is difficulty in implementing these Central schemes,� Lyngdoh added.
In Meghalaya, implementation of schemes like the PMEGP and several others has been slow. Implementation of other schemes like the State�s Maternity Benefit Scheme or the Centre�s Smart City Mission has been slow, not necessarily due to lack of Aadhaar cards, but for a host of other reasons including red-tapism.
Meanwhile, CSCs have being entrusted with the task of implementation of Central Government schemes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the people to avail of the benefits that the Central Government is providing.
The PM-SYM is a pension scheme for unorganised workers such as maids, helpers, workers, hawkers and small shop owners whose monthly income is Rs 15,000 or less. To avail of the scheme, the beneficiary has to be in the age group of 18-40 years.
For enrolment process beneficiaries have to visit a CSC along with Aadhaar cards and savings bank accounts. After verification, the computer will calculate the exact monthly contribution between Rs 55 to Rs 200.
Dimapur Correspondent adds: The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme for unorganised workers was launched across Nagaland on Tuesday.
Launching the scheme at the Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said the scheme is meant for those people who are earning their daily wages in towns or villages. Toy said although similar schemes were launched earlier, the Naga people were unable to take advantage of such schemes.
�It will benefit the greater section of our people who are in the unorganised sectors,� he said. Toy urged all to spread the message and get as many people as possible enrolled in the scheme.
Branch manager of LIC, Kohima, Shelphomran Khaling said the PM-SYM is a voluntary and periodic contribution-based pension system meant for unorganised workers in the age group of 18-40 years and with an income up to Rs 15,000 per month. This scheme provides for a fixed pension of Rs 3,000 after attaining the age of 50 years on a monthly contribution of a small amount.
Khaling said the PM-SYM would be administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in partnership with the LIC, which will be the pension fund manager and responsible for pension payout.
He urged eligible persons to visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) along with Aadhaar cards, savings bank accounts and cash for enrolment under the scheme.
