EPS-95 Pensioners to Continue Countrywide Agitation, Letter to Min of Labour cites 'PM Modi Promised Justice Yet No Result'
New Delhi : The members of National Agitation Committee (NAC) held a press meet at Press Club of India, New Delhi refering the delay in the demands raised by the EPS-95 pensioners for long. Agitated and aggrieved pensioners will be holding protests from August 1, 2022. Hundreds of members across the country visited the National Capital to raise their voice against the delay despite Hon'ble Prime Minister's and Labour Minister's promises. The convenor of National Agitation Committee Comm. Ashok Raut also wrote a letter to the Minister of Labour & Employment citing all the grievances and complaints.
The pensioners demand minimum pension be enhanced to Rs.7500/- plus DA. Other 3 demands are
'Option for higher pension to all EPS 95 pensioners as per EPFO's Letter notification, to provide free Medical facilities to all EPS95 pensioners and their spouses, and EPS 95 retired employees who are not member of EPS95 Scheme be allowed ex-post facto membership by recovering contribution with interest and allowing them their due arrears. Otherwise they may be granted fixed Rs.5000/- per month towards pension.
NAC Chief Ashok Raut shared the roadmap of protests that are going to be organized from 1st August. Various types of agitations at Taluka, District, State Level throughout the country from 1st August to 7th August 2022 will be held.
Chain Hungar Strike to be observed in front of the CPFC office at New Delhi from 01 August to 07 th August 2022.
They have pledged to 'Fast untill death' with effect from 07 August 2022 in front of the CPFC office. Demonstration/Rasta Roko to be organized at Ramleela ground New Delhi by Lakhs of pensioners from throughout the country on 08th August
NAC Chief Commander Ashok Raut asressing the media said, "EPFO has been trying to mislead CBT members by playing tricks against pensioners. We met Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the fate of thousands of old-aged pensioners hang in uncertainity. Today at NAC HQ at Buldhana Maharashtra, hundreds of old age pensioners including women are on Chain Hunger Strike since 24 December 2018. Today is 1317th day of this Chain Hunger Strike. NAC's leaders Mr. M.L.Kale and and Smt. Shobha Tai Aras are fasting in today's chain hunger strike. It is deplorable and disappointing that the promises made by our beloved and Hon. Prime Minister twice in the past are not fulfilled yet by the Labor Ministry."
He further said, "Government of India is running other pension schemes smoothly but step-treatment is being done to EPS 95 pensioners. Due to all these reasons, the anger among the pensioners is at its peak. Rashtriya Sangharsh Samiti (NAC) is struggling for the last 5 years to get justice for EPS 95 pensioners. The four-point demands of NAC have not been accepted yet, that is why in the meeting of Jamshedpur on 15.11.2021, some important decisions were taken to get the demands approved. Our members are leaving the world day by day, so in today's CBT meeting, in the context of our demands, accept the CBT proposal and do not test our patience."
On the basis of Supreme Court's decision dated 4.10.2016 in the matter of high pension, even after EPFO's own letter dated 23.03.2017, pensioners are not providing their entitlements and pensioners are being asked to go to courts again. has been forced.
*EPFO is providing Rs 2000 monthly medical allowance to its employees but pensioners are being denied medical facility.
