Pensioners miffed as call for EPS-95 pension hike once again ignored

The needs of pensioners seemed to have been ignored yet again in the latest meeting held by the Central Board of Trustees, the apex body of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

This came on the heels of thousands of pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-95) protesting outside the EPFO headquarters in New Delhi this Monday, demanding a minimum monthly pension of Rs 7,500.

The pensioners' body, EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, said in a statement, "Pensioners from across India seek Rs 7,500 minimum pension, full DA restoration, and medical benefits. They urged the government to immediately address their long-pending demands."

Despite the protests and long-standing demand, the apex body's agenda for the latest meeting did not feature this.

Another demand for the rationalisation of pensions to match higher salaries was also skipped.

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a bid to dispel the tension, said that the decision to increase the minimum pension is under review and would be brought before the Union Cabinet for consideration.

If this pans out, 6.5 crore EPF members are set to benefit from better minimum pensions.

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The 238th meeting of the EPFO Central Board of Trustees (CBT) led to the liberalisation of various sections of its retirement fund scheme, in a bid to tackle delayed repayment of PF dues.

This coincided with one of the largest coordinated protests by EPS-95 beneficiaries in recent months, with beneficiaries from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and several other states joining the demonstration.

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