EPFO Pension: At that stage of age when a person needs rest and relaxation the most, lakhs of elderly people of the country are forced to take to the streets for their basic needs. Pensioners covered under the Employee Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) are going to hold a big protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding increase in their minimum pension. If there is any EPFO pensioner in your family, then this news is directly related to you. This three-day movement starting from March 9 is not just a demand for money, but a fight for the respect of lakhs of people who have devoted three to four decades of their lives for the development of the country.
Pensioners have been demanding from the government for the last nine years
An employee who works sincerely for 30 to 35 years, regularly deposits his pension contributions in EPFO, and when he retires, he gets an average pension of just Rs 1171 every month. In today’s inflation, this amount doesn’t even suffice for a week’s ration, so how will we survive for a month? Under the leadership of EPS 95 National Agitation Committee (EPS-95 NAC), this pain is now turning into anger. This demonstration has been called on the call of the national president of the committee, Commander Ashok Raut. About 81 lakh (8.1 million) pensioners, who have worked in public undertakings, private sector, cooperative institutions, mills and media of the Central and State Government, have been making this legitimate demand from the government for the last nine years.
More than 200 people are dying every day due to lack of treatment.
This figure is very shocking and sad. The direct allegation of the committee is that due to such low pension and lack of free medical facilities, on an average 200 to 250 pensioners are dying untimely every day across the country. In old age, the cost of medicines and treatment is the highest, but when the pension itself is around one thousand rupees, then how can the elderly get their treatment done? Hurt by this continuous neglect, pensioners have now decided to camp at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on March 9, 10 and 11 with the beginning of the second phase of the budget session of Parliament.
What are the main demands of these elderly pensioners?
The main objective of this movement is to convey its four main demands to the government.
- Increase in pension: The current minimum monthly pension (Rs 1000) should be increased to at least Rs 7,500 and dearness allowance (DA) should also be added to it.
- Medical facilities: Free medical care should be provided to pensioners and their spouses.
- Following the order of the Supreme Court: According to the decision of the Supreme Court of November 4, 2022, all eligible pensioners should get the benefit of higher pension equally.
- Other demands: Those who were kept out of the EPS-95 scheme have also demanded a pension of Rs 5,000 per month.
After unheard appeals, now a fight between each other
The National Agitation Committee says that they have conveyed their views to the Prime Minister, all the Union Ministers and MPs of all parties. Knocks were knocked on every door, but the government continues to ignore the calls of these elders. Now pensioners from all the states of the country are expected to participate in this protest. It is believed that this movement may also get support from MPs of different political parties. It remains to be seen whether this three-day movement will be able to wake up the government, or whether these 81 lakh elderly people will have to wait longer for their rights.