The EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, which represents pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95), has placed several key demands before the Central Government.
The committee has warned that if these demands are not accepted, pensioners across the country will hold a nationwide protest on August 5.
According to a PTI report, the committee’s biggest demand is to increase the minimum monthly pension to ₹7,500. At present, pensioners under the EPS scheme receive a minimum pension of ₹1,000 per month.
Committee Demands Higher Pension and Other Benefits
In a press release, the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee said that the current minimum pension of ₹1,000 is not enough to meet today’s living expenses.
Therefore, it has demanded that the government raise the minimum pension to ₹7,500 per month.
The Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), operated by the EPFO, came into effect on September 1, 2014.
Main Demands of the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee
The committee has placed the following demands before the government:
Increase the minimum monthly pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500.
Provide Dearness Allowance (DA) to pensioners.
Offer free medical facilities to pensioners and their spouses.
Give higher pension to eligible pensioners in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment.
The committee said that these workers have contributed to the country’s industrial and economic development for several decades and deserve a dignified and financially secure life after retirement.
Around 81 Lakh Pensioners May Benefit
The committee said that if the government accepts these demands, around 8.1 million (81 lakh) pensioners across the country will benefit.
Ashok Raut, National President of the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, said that this has been a long-pending demand.
According to him, governments have repeatedly given assurances over the years, but no major decision has been taken so far.
He added that many pensioners currently receive an average monthly pension of only ₹1,171, which is not enough to meet present-day expenses.
Protest Planned at Jantar Mantar
Thousands of pensioners covered under the EPS-95 scheme will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on August 5. The committee has already submitted its demands to the government.
The Central Minister of State, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said that several organizations have raised similar demands.
However, no decision has been taken on the matter yet.
The minister also stated that the government remains committed to working in the best interests of EPFO subscribers.
