Aggrieved EPS-95 pensioners meet Prime Minister Modi, gets assurance of 'respectable pension'

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Aggrieved EPS-95 pensioners meet Prime Minister Modi, gets assurance of 'respectable pension'
Aggrieved EPS-95 pensioners meet Prime Minister Modi, gets assurance of 'respectable pension'

New Delhi : Lakhs of aggrieved former EPS-95 pensioners of Employees Provident Fund Organization's (EPFO) have a moment of silver lining as they met the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday. Actress turned MP from Mathura, Smt Hema Malini parleyed this much-awaited meeting between the pensioners and the PM.

Commander Ashok Raut (Retd.), Chairman, EPS-95 National Action Committee (NAC), said on the occasion, "It is very gratifying that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji acknowledged our demands and expressed solidarity to our yearlong struggle. He has assured appropriate action to be taken for all the pensioners. With his assurance, there is a ray of hope in the lives of all the marginalized pensioners of EPS-95 who are protesting for their rights since long. PM has expressed that the government is committed to giving a respectable pension, and also ensured total commitment to the pensioners. We express heartiest thanks to Smt. Hema Malini ji, Mathura MP, for her tremendous effort in understanding our pain and made our voice reach the desk of PM."

For a long time, there has been widespread agitation by EPS-95 employees across the country. Victimized pensioners from more than 25 states of the country have urged the government to protect their rights. Earlier, they had taken out a protest march in full swing to the Prime Minister's House, but nothing fruitful was done. They had been continuously protesting all over the country with their demands.

Recently, pensioners had also submitted a memorandum to the Minister of State for the Government of India, PMO, Mr. Jitendra Singh.

It is to be noted that for the last 437 days, Mrs. Shobha Aarus, in Buldana (Maharashtra), has been fasting in front of the office of the District Magistrate with her demands on EPS-95 schemes. She wants the recommendations of the Koshiyari Committee to be implemented.

Twelve per cent of the total salary of former employees goes to the provident fund along with the owners' contribution of12%. They demand that the government should contribute to it like other pension schemes. At present, the government only contributes 1 point 6. Families of many pensioners are marginalized due to this neglect.

There is a wave of happiness among pensioners after meeting Prime Minister Modi. The meeting was attended by Commander Ashok Raut along with General Secretary Birendra Singh, Chief Advisor PN Patil, Vice President Asaram Sharma, Mathura Mandal President Puran Singh and Chief Coordinator Ranjit Singh.