Gandhinagar, Jan 19 (IANS) Under the nationwide financial awareness drive titled ‘Your Money, Your Right’, more than Rs 104 crore has been returned to original account holders in Gujarat, reaffirming the principle that every rupee saved by citizens rightfully belongs to them and their families.

The campaign was formally launched in October 2025 from Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who flagged off the initiative at the national level from the state.

As of December 31, 2025, a total amount of Rs 104.61 crore has been successfully restored to beneficiaries across Gujarat. Since the launch of the campaign, 26,874 claims have been filed in the state. After due verification as per prescribed norms, the concerned banks and financial institutions have credited the amounts back to the rightful account holders.

The campaign conveys a simple yet powerful message: unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, mutual fund balances and pension amounts are not mere accounting entries, but hard-earned savings of ordinary families.

Their recovery can significantly strengthen household spending on education, healthcare and long-term financial security. At the national level, the scale of unclaimed financial assets remains substantial.

As of August 31, 2025, banks across India had transferred over Rs 75,000 crore of unclaimed deposits to the Reserve Bank of India. In addition, unclaimed amounts include nearly Rs 14,000 crore in the insurance sector, around Rs 3,000 crore in mutual funds, approximately Rs 9,000 crore held by companies, and shares worth about Rs 19,000 crore lying unclaimed.

In total, an estimated Rs 1.82 lakh crore remains unclaimed nationwide. The gradual return of these funds is already proving to be a major relief for poor and middle-class families. In Gujarat alone, unclaimed amounts are estimated at Rs 2,836.80 crore in public sector banks and around Rs 235 crore with insurance companies.

Through sustained outreach and awareness efforts, Rs 104.61 crore has been returned to claimants in the state by December 2025.

The Gujarat government has directed all departments to actively run awareness drives to ensure that citizens receive their rightful money at their doorstep.

The campaign builds upon India’s broader achievements in financial inclusion – from Jan Dhan accounts and UPI to Direct Benefit Transfer – ensuring that citizens not only have access to financial services but are also empowered to reclaim what is legally theirs.

To maximise participation, the campaign was conducted from October to December 2025 across all states and Union Territories. Digital exhibitions and help desks have played a key role in assisting citizens to identify and claim their unclaimed financial assets with ease.

The initiative is being coordinated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with key regulators and institutions including the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority, along with banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and pension institutions, providing a unified platform to reconnect citizens with their unclaimed wealth.

–IANS

janvi/svn