Should Idle Financial Assets Be Deployed for National Development?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Innovative policy frameworks are essential for utilizing idle financial assets.
- Inter-agency coordination will enhance the deployment of these resources.
- The IEPFA is leading significant reforms in investor protection.
- Financial literacy initiatives like Niveshak Didi are pivotal for public awareness.
- All stakeholders are committed to unlocking unclaimed assets for national growth.
New Delhi, Sep 9 (NationPress) There is an urgent necessity for innovative policy frameworks and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that idle financial assets are effectively utilized for national development, as stated by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC).
Sanyal praised the initiatives taken by the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) for notable process reforms during its 9th Foundation Day celebration.
The conference's theme was "Claiming the Unclaimed: Unlocking the Potential of Idle Financial Assets in India".
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and IEPFA CEO, Anita Shah Akella, highlighted the authority's endeavors to enhance investor protection, streamline claim settlements, and promote financial literacy throughout India.
She stressed the authority’s mission to become a reliable custodian of investor interests through reforms based on transparency, technology, and trust, showcasing key initiatives like the Integrated Portal for Claims and Refunds, simplification of low-value claims, and financial literacy campaigns such as Niveshak Didi and Niveshak Shivirs.
In announcing the forthcoming Niveshak Samadhan–Dial Your CEO program, Akella elaborated on IEPFA’s Panchtattva vision aimed at delivering quicker refunds, integrating AI-driven solutions, and establishing IEPFA as a trust cornerstone in India’s financial system, reiterating that its impact is truly measured by the lives it affects.
IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER, Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, emphasized the significance of collaborative reforms to reduce claim processing times, enhance transparency, and bolster investor confidence. The discussions featured senior policymakers, regulators, and experts from various sectors.
The roundtable concluded with a unified pledge from all participants to unlock the potential of unclaimed assets, enhance financial inclusion, and reinforce investor trust in the Indian financial ecosystem, as per a statement from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The IEPFA was founded on September 7, 2016, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and is tasked with managing the Investor Education and Protection Fund, which aims to protect investor interests by facilitating the recovery of shares, unclaimed dividends, and matured deposits/debentures.