Travails of Employees Pension Scheme-95 pensioners continue

Hanamkonda: There seems to be no end to the travails of the Employees' Pension Scheme-1995, also known as EPS-95, members as they continue to fight against the Central government for a minimum monthly pension of Rs 7,500 under the scheme.

Speaking to the media persons here on Monday, All-India EPS-95 Pensioners Sangharsh Samiti Warangal Region Convener K Raghava Chary said that though they have been vociferously demanding for minimum monthly pension of Rs 7,500 and interim pension of Rs 5,000, the government has little concern about it.

He said that there are around 60 lakh pensioners out of which around 40 lakh pensioners are getting less than Rs 1,500 per month, even though the government has about Rs 3 lakh crore of pension funds.

"Even though the All-India EPS-95 Pensioners Sangharsh Samiti led by its National Convener Commander Ashok Raut has been demanding for minimum monthly pension and other provisions, the government is not ready to resolve the issue," he said, stating that it has become difficult for them to meet both ends in such a meagre pension under the scheme.

Samiti Warangal Working President Kota Devender Reddy, ex-RTC employee, said: "The government needs to understand that we are not pensioners. We are being covered under the EPS and what we get was not enough for our livelihood." The Samiti is gearing up to organise a rally in Delhi on December 7 to exert pressure on the Centre, he said.

The EP-95 members demanded the State government to provide double bedroom houses besides bringing them under the ambit of Aasara pensions and other schemes.

They urged the government to implement the Koshiyari Committee's recommendation. Provision of free medical facilities to the EPS-95 pensioners and to their spouses was one of major demands.