Ahmedabad: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, said that banks, regulatory bodies, and financial institutions still have financial assets worth an amazing ₹1.84 lakh crore that have not been claimed. She stressed that the government is dedicated to making sure that this money gets to the correct people through a clear and organized approach.
The minister was in Gandhinagar to officially start the three-month statewide campaign “Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar” (Your Money, Your Right). She was joined by Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, high-ranking officials from the Finance Ministry, banks, and other regulatory authorities.
Sitharaman said, “It is their money.”
Sitharaman spoke to the crowd and emphasized that the campaign has a simple but strong message: every rupee saved by residents must eventually go back to them or their families.
“People have been worried for decades that money that is not claimed and is sitting in banks, the RBI, or the IEPF (Investor Education and Protection Fund) should be given back to its rightful owners. We need to identify the proper people to claim it and give it to them. She said, “It’s their money.”
The Finance Minister told the public that the money is completely safe:
The DFS (Department of Financial Services) says that ₹1.84 lakh crore is there. It’s safe. I can promise you that it is completely secure. You can come whenever you want as long as you have the right papers. You will get money. The government is in charge of it.
What happens to money that isn’t claimed?
Sitharaman said that if no one claims financial assets for a long time, they are moved from one institution to another. For instance:
The RBI gets bank deposits that people don’t claim.
Stocks or other assets that aren’t claimed go from SEBI to the IEPF.
Insurance payments, dividends, pensions, and mutual fund balances also go to specific custodial accounts.
The RBI has already set up the UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits Gateway to Access Information) platform, which makes it easy for people to find their unclaimed deposits. Sitharaman compared these unclaimed amounts to a “ripe fruit” that belongs to the citizen but can’t be reached until it is claimed.
The Three Pillars: Knowledge, Access, and Action
Sitharaman talked about the campaign’s three main ideas: Awareness, Accessibility, and Action (3As).
Awareness: Teaching people how to find unclaimed assets.
Accessibility: Making digital tools available and reaching out to people in the area.
Action: Making sure that claims are settled in a clear and timely manner.
She said that getting this money back would not only make families financially stable again, but it would also help with basic requirements like education, health care, and planning for retirement.
Campaign launch all over India
The campaign will take place all over the country, from October to December 2025, and will include all States and Union Territories. Digital demonstrations, help desks, and outreach at the district level will make it easier for people to find and claim their unclaimed assets.
People who successfully got their money back also got certificates at the ceremony. Sitharaman lauded regional rural banks, like Gujarat Gramin Bank, for helping more people get access to financial services through KYC and re-KYC initiatives.
The current state of unclaimed property
DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju says that as of August 2025:
The RBI’s Depositor Education and Awareness Fund now has ₹75,000 crore in unclaimed deposits.
There are still ₹13,800 crore worth of unclaimed insurance payments.
There are still ₹3,000 crore in mutual fund balances that haven’t been claimed.
There are ₹9,000 crore in unpaid dividends waiting for their rightful owners.
The IEPF has already received about 172 crore shares.
Nagaraju underlined how important it is for claims to be processed quickly, fairly, and without any problems so that people may get their money back with confidence.
Adding to India’s success in getting people involved in the economy
The program draws on India’s successes in making financial services available to everyone through Jan Dhan Yojana, UPI, and Direct Benefit Transfers. It wants to make sure that people not only have access to financial services but also get back what is properly theirs.
At the end of her speech, Sitharaman asked all institutions to take part in the campaign so that no citizen is cut off from their hard-earned money.