First ‘Niveshak Shivir’ Held in Pune to Help Investors Reclaim Unclaimed Shares and Dividends

In a significant step toward investor empowerment, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), launched its first “Niveshak Shivir” in Pune on Sunday. The event, attended by over 450 investors, aimed to enhance financial literacy and resolve long-standing investor grievances related to unclaimed shares and dividends.

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Designed as a one-stop platform for investor assistance, the Shivir helped participants address issues like claiming unclaimed dividends over six years old, updating KYC and nomination details, and settling other investment-related concerns. With more than 1.1 billion unclaimed shares — valued at nearly ₹1 lakh crore — and unclaimed dividends worth around ₹6,000 crore lying with the IEPFA, the initiative comes at a crucial time.

Key market participants, including Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), Registrars and Transfer Agents (RTAs), Depositories, and their representatives, were present to guide investors through the claim process. A dedicated search facility at the venue allowed attendees to check for unclaimed investments in their names or those of their relatives.

To further simplify the process, trained officials assisted investors at 19 kiosks, helping them fill out the IEPF-5 form and understand the documentation required. The event also witnessed the launch of an investor-friendly brochure titled “Investor Guide to Claiming Unclaimed Shares and Dividends” by NSDL. This brochure outlines the step-by-step procedure for filing claims, lists required documents like PAN, Aadhaar, and Entitlement Letter, and provides tips to avoid claim rejections.

Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, along with SEBI Whole Time Member Ananth Narayan, inaugurated the brochure and addressed the participants.

This pilot event is the first in a series of similar Shivir events to be rolled out across Indian cities with high volumes of unclaimed investor funds. The initiative aligns with IEPFA’s mission to create a more transparent, investor-friendly ecosystem and ensure better access to grievance redressal.

Conclusion

The successful launch of the first Niveshak Shivir in Pune marks a major leap in bridging the gap between investors and their unclaimed assets. With plans to scale this initiative nationwide, IEPFA and SEBI are paving the way for a more informed, empowered investor base in India.