Atal Pension Scheme: Political Crossfire.!
In response, Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Atal Pension Yojana, asserting that it was crafted based on best practices, allowing for automatic premium payments unless subscribers choose to opt out, thereby promoting financial planning for retirement. Sitharaman emphadata-sized the scheme's guarantee of a minimum 8 percent return, regardless of prevailing interest rates, funded by the government of india to ensure subscriber benefits.
Contrary to Ramesh's claims, Sitharaman stressed that the scheme offers an appealing guaranteed minimum return, with the government subsidizing the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to cover any shortfalls. She highlighted that current returns exceed the mandated 8 percent, indicating favorable outcomes for subscribers.
However, concerns raised by the indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), which found that one in three subscribers had been enrolled without consent, cast a shadow over the scheme's implementation. bank employees, aiming to meet targets, allegedly enrolled individuals without their knowledge, raising ethical and procedural questions regarding the scheme's execution.
As the political discourse intensifies, scrutiny over the Atal Pension Yojana's efficacy and ethical standards persists, underscoring the importance of transparent and accountable governance in shaping social welfare policies.