Thursday, March 20, 2008

Little progress on Pensions front

The government is not making much progress in the crucial area of pensions. The existing formal pension channels don’t cover unorganised sector workers.
Given the dismal levels of penetration of financial services, most Indian people are not contributing towards their old-age security.
The PFRDA Bill could bridge that gap, and give people greater control over their retirement benefits, but the Left has held it hostage.
Contrast this with the US. In 1981, Ronald Reagan launched the 401K plan in the US. The US pension industry, which was $60 billion then, is today a $9 trillion industry, with most of the money invested in equities.
Under the shadow of the Left, the government has hestitated to increase FDI limits from 26% to 49% in insurance. What a great pity.

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