LUDHIANA: Punjab State Chapter of PHDCCI, in association with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO), organised an Awareness Session on National Pension System (NPS): Building a Secure Future for MSME Workforce at Ludhiana.
The objective of the session was to create awareness among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) regarding the importance of structured retirement planning and social security for employees through the National Pension System (NPS).
Delivering the formal welcome address, S. Gurmeet Singh Kular, President, FICO, highlighted the growing need for retirement preparedness in the MSME sector. He stated that NPS offers a transparent, regulated and cost-effective pension solution that can significantly benefit both employers and employees, while also contributing towards the creation of a financially secure workforce.
Sh. Dhritiman Sarkar, Assistant Manager, PFRDA, provided detailed insights into the regulatory framework and objectives of the National Pension System. He emphasised that NPS is a government-regulated pension scheme designed to encourage long-term financial discipline and provide a stable post-retirement income to subscribers.
A comprehensive presentation on NPS for MSMEs – Benefits, Enrolment Process and Tax Advantages was delivered by Sh. Aishwarya Mudgal, Senior Manager, HDFC Pension Fund. He explained the contribution structures under NPS, online onboarding procedures, employer-employee contribution benefits, and the various tax incentives available under the prevailing provisions of the Income Tax Act. He encouraged MSMEs to adopt NPS as an effective tool for employee welfare, retention and long-term financial security.
Addressing the gathering as the Guest of Honour, Sh. Pankaj Kumar Jha, Joint Director, MSME Development & Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Ludhiana, underscored the importance of social security and financial inclusion for the MSME workforce. He stated that retirement planning should be viewed as an integral component of human resource development and organisational sustainability. He encouraged MSMEs to proactively adopt welfare-oriented initiatives such as NPS, which not only benefit employees but also contribute to building a more productive, motivated and secure workforce.
The session was moderated by CA Sanjeev Bhandari, Member, PHDCCI, who highlighted the increasing importance of financial security in today’s dynamic economic environment and the crucial role industry bodies can play in promoting awareness about social security and retirement planning mechanisms.
CA Vishal Garg, Co-Convener, Ludhiana Zone of Punjab State Chapter, PHDCCI, while proposing the formal vote of thanks, emphasized that for the MSME sector, NPS offers an effective and affordable social security solution that can enhance employee welfare, improve workforce retention, and contribute to sustainable business growth. Mr. Sumit Kumar, Assistant Secretary, PHDCCI, and Mr. Gursharan Singh, Resident Officer, PHDCCI represented PHDCCI Secretariat during the programme.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 60 industry leaders, entrepreneurs and MSME representatives. The interactive discussions and expert deliberations reinforced the significance of retirement planning and social security, while encouraging wider adoption of NPS across the MSME ecosystem.
