EPS95 pensioners demand minimum pension of Rs 7,500 per month

Amaravati: The Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 pensioners have been preparing a ground for countrywide protest from November 1 to 10, demanding the central government to provide a minimum pension of Rs 7,500.

Some of the employees have been getting very meagre amount, starting from Rs 1000 per month, despite of serving in even the government sector undertakings like APSRTC and others. More than 2,66,000 pensioners are there in Andhra Pradesh alone and around 65 lakh people across the country, and all of them would likely join in agitation.

The retired employees association members in the state have been explaining that they would stage hunger strikes at all district collectors offices, give representations to Collectors, MPs in the state for ten days. After that, they have been planning a massive protest in New Delhi from December 4 to 8, in which the pensioners from across the country will participate.

All India EPS 95 Pensioners' Sangarshana Samithi, also known as National Agitation Committee Vijayawada region Organizing Secretary L Murali Krishna, member Sk Saidavali and others informed with The Hans India that there are pensioners suffering to meet their minimum requirements as they could not get more than Rs 2000 pension. Murali Krishna added that it was injustice on the part of the central government to force these retired employees into financial problems.

Murali Krishna informed that the present minimum pension is just Rs 1000, which should be increased to Rs 7500. The Union government has to provide the Dearness Allowance to the pensioners also, as per the recommendations of the Pay Revision Committee, time to time.

In the earlier, the Supreme Court gave an interim order to the union government to give higher option to all pensioners duly cancelling the decision of Provident Fund Organization. This order came in the wake of Provident Fund Organization has took a decision to not accept higher option to exempt organisations like APSRTC, who are having separate Provident Fund Trust, he informed. If the government would consider the highest option, then the pensioners will automatically get benefitted and they would get minimum assured money to lead respectable life, he explained.

The Organizing Secretary also demanded the centre to provide free medical facility to pensioners and their spouses.

The other major demand from the leaders is that, the central government must consider to restore surrendered pension after completing 15 years tenure. He explained that at present, there is a provision to surrender some part of the pension to the government by the pensioner. At the time of surrendering the part of pension, the government would give certain amount to the pensioner. After completing 15 years, the government has to restore the surrendered pension. But, it is violating this provision and not returning the benefits to pensioners, he informed.

He also added, that for those pensioners who did not opted for EPS 95 also should get at least Rs 5,000 as pension per month, along with medical benefits.