Thousands of EPS-95 Pensioners Demonstrate at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Flipboard
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
Thousands of EPS-95 Pensioners Demonstrate at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan
Thousands of EPS-95 Pensioners Demonstrate at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan

New Delhi : The pensioners of EPS-95 demonstrated raising their demands at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Thousands of aggrieved pensioners across every nook and corner of the country participated in the nationwide protest. This nationwide agitation has been started by EPS-95 against the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) ​​and Ministry of Labor. It is to be noted that 75 old-aged pensioners went on a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 7th and 8th August, marking the 75 years of independence. 

The four-point demands of the National Agitation Committee have not yet been accepted. The pensioners agitating under the NAC are demanding an increase in the minimum pension to Rs 7,500 per month along with dearness allowance under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-95) of EPFO. There are other demands including higher pension to EPS-95 pensioners, providing free medical facilities to all EPS-95 pensioners and their spouses.

Commander Ashok Raut, Convener of the Rashtriya Sangharsh Samiti said, "Our Sangharsh Samiti is fighting for the last 5 years to get justice for the EPS 95 pensioners. Today our demands have been sidelined despite getting assurances twice from the hon'ble Prime Minister. It is unfortunate that even Police dogs are given pension in Andhra Pradesh, third gender has pension in the country, but we have been pushed to the margins. The country's MLAs and MPs have pension, but we don't have, where is justice? Average pension Rs 1171 is meagre for us to live with self respect. By getting Rs. 7500 pension we can live our life with self respect. We urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to take cognizance on this serious issue only on 15th August. If the demands are not met, we have decided that we will not rot, we will die fighting. We are fighting only for our self-respect. This is not a political issue. The government should immediately implement our demands."

An 82-year-old pensioner from Maharashtra said, "We have come this far on our own money only so that the government listens to us. We cannot survive in Rs. 1000-500. We have deposited the money in the pension fund throughout our life. Today this treatment is being done to us. It is very unfortunate that when the country is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the elders of the country are fighting for their rights. They are being treated step-motherly."

An old woman protester said, "One, our service was terminated prematurely. On top of that, there is such a low pension which makes difficult to run a household. Many women live alone, many are widows, they barely survive. Children throw them out of the house saying that they are a burden on them. The government should take immediate cognizance of this matter and we should get relief at the earliest. At least we should get what we have as deposited."

A protester who came to Delhi from Chambal, Madhya Pradesh, said, "While the country is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi, the old aged pensioners of this country are fighting for their self-respect today. In this era of inflation, the government should tell how to survive with 1100 pension. The oldest people of this country are probably the most neglected and poorest section of the world today.

Important decisions In the General Conference.

Along with the protest by taking out the Maharally, along with the Rasta Roko movement by the old-aged pensioners, a memorandum was also submitted by the NAC delegation to the Prime Minister's Office.

Published : 2022-08-12 07:29:23
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Flipboard
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
For more news and latest updates like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter