EPS-95 pensioners demand minimum pension of Rs 7,500

Thousands of pensioners covered under the EPS-95 staged a protest at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi demanding that the minimum monthly pension be raised to Rs 7,500. Presently, the pension under the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is Rs 60 to Rs 2500.

New Delhi: Pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) from 27 states staged a protest at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Saturday to demand Rs 7,500 per month minimum pension including a host of other demands.

The amount under the scheme, run by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), is Rs 60 to Rs 2500 at present.

The pensioners' delegation had met Minister of State (MoS) for Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Friday and submitted a memorandum, pointing to the negligence of the Employees'' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Speaking to ETV Bharat, President of EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, Ashok Raut said, "We met MoS Dr Jitendra Singh and submitted our memorandum related to our demands."

He further said that he has written several letters to the Prime Minister and MPs regarding the issue but no action has been taken yet.

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Terming it the final ultimatum to the Central government, Raut said that it was one and one battle with the government. However, they hope that the government would listen to their demands.

"We have given a final ultimatum to the government. People say that'Modi hai to mumkin hai' (It is possible if Modi is there), so we too hope the same. If the demands are not met by January 25, a mass agitation would be launched," he added.

Showing his anguish, Kamlakar Pehlakar, a retired employee, said that their life has become pathetic without money.

"Neither the family members nor the society gives any value to us now. We have been reduced to nothing. Even my wife gets angry at me because I have no money to give her," said Pehlakar.

It is to be noted that the Koshiyari Committee, which submitted its recommendations to the government in 2013, had provided for a minimum pension and dearness allowance to retired employees.

The committee had also recommended assistance after the untimely death of the spouse and compensation to the widow, the family for life.