New Delhi: In a major move to improve pension awareness and retirement planning in rural India, the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch and support a community-based network of ‘Pension Sakhis’.
The MoU was signed by Amit Shukla, Joint Secretary, DoRD, and Sumeet Kaur Kapoor, Executive Director, PFRDA, in the presence of Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development. The partnership will use the grassroots network of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to take pension-related information and services closer to rural families.
Under the initiative, Pension Sakhis will work as community-level facilitators, particularly among Self-Help Group (SHG) members, rural women, Lakhpati Didis and other rural residents. They will help people understand pension and retirement planning, support enrolment and provide assistance with pension-related services.
Speaking at the event, Rohit Kansal said, “Social security is not only about protection against vulnerability; it is also about giving households the confidence and resilience to pursue sustained economic advancement.”
The initiative aims to address a key challenge in rural pension coverage: many households have limited access to formal financial advice and retirement-planning services. By using trained community workers, the programme will provide information at the local level and encourage informed participation in pension schemes, including the National Pension System (NPS).
The partnership will also use digital tools, including the Department’s LoKoS system, along with mobile and web-based solutions. These systems will help monitor outreach, enrolment and gaps in coverage.
The collaboration combines PFRDA’s expertise in pension and retirement security with DAY-NRLM’s wide network of women-led community institutions. The initiative is expected to strengthen rural financial inclusion by moving beyond basic banking access towards long-term savings, retirement planning and greater financial resilience.
Comments are closed