Delhi Government Partners with Banks to Return Unclaimed Wealth to Citizens
In a significant move to empower citizens financially, the Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has announced a proactive collaboration with banks to return unclaimed money lying dormant in people's accounts. This initiative is part of the Union Finance Ministry's nationwide campaign, 'Apki Punji, Apka Adhikar' (Your Money, Your Right), which aims to reunite individuals with their forgotten financial assets.
Mega Camps and Digital Restoration of Assets
The announcement was made by CM Rekha Gupta on Thursday, November 28, 2025, during a special camp held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. She emphasized that the government has now taken digital responsibility for restoring citizens' unclaimed assets. "This campaign demonstrates that the government’s policy and intent are focused on the delivery of service," Gupta stated while addressing the gathering.
She confirmed that the Delhi government will work closely with the Finance Ministry to ensure more such camps are set up across the city in the coming days. "This is not just the recovery of common funds, it is the restoration of rights, fulfillment of justice, and affirmation of your entitlements," the Chief Minister added, framing the initiative as a matter of civic justice.
Nationwide Campaign Gains Momentum
The 'Apki Punji, Apka Adhikar' campaign was launched by the Union Government in October 2025 to raise public awareness and facilitate the reclamation of financial assets. These assets include unclaimed money from bank deposits, insurance policies, mutual funds, and pension schemes. Officials noted that such funds often go unclaimed due to a lack of awareness or outdated contact information with financial institutions.
The camp in Delhi provided direct guidance to people on the procedures to claim their assets. The event was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, who highlighted the campaign's rapid progress. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this government has made it clear that public awareness, public services, and public trust are the real strength of the nation," Chaudhary said.
He further revealed that the campaign is on track to reach every district in the country within a three-month window, from October to December 2025, ensuring no citizen is deprived of their rightful capital.
Substantial Funds Awaiting Claim in Delhi
Providing concrete data, Secretary (Financial Services) M Nagaraju shared impressive figures on the campaign's success and the scale of the challenge. He announced that more than Rs 1,887 crore has been returned to citizens across India within just two months of the campaign's launch.
However, he pointed to a significant amount still waiting to be claimed specifically in Delhi. "As of August 31, 2025, the pending balance under the Deposited Education and Awareness (DEA) fund related to Delhi is a staggering Rs 3,210.84 crore," Nagaraju stated. This highlights a critical need for stronger public engagement in the national capital so that families can access funds that are rightfully theirs.
Nagaraju also provided an update on the campaign's reach, noting that mega district-level camps have already been organized in 272 districts across four phases, with an additional 102 camps scheduled for the immediate future. The government is committed to covering all districts in the country under this initiative.
