New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- It's unfortunate that a sizable chunk of the savings of Indians is locked up in bank accounts, mutual funds, provident funds and other institutional deposits lying unclaimed for years.

Not only is this unfair to those who rightfully have a claim on it, but it's also an economic loss to the extent some of this money could be deployed more productively.

The finance ministry deserves credit for attempting to return it. Launching a programme for it on Saturday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said such amounts total Rs.1.84 trillion. That is a substantial sum. If fully unlocked, it wouldn't just grant recipients greater financial agency, but perhaps also spur consumption as they find themselves better off.

It's dis...