Mass Protest Will be Held on July 31
On the 31 st July, 78 million people shall be out on the streets to protest on non-increase in their pensions. The Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) aspirants demanded that the minimum pension per month must be increased to ₹7,500/- for pensioners. This demand is coming at the time when they have been chanting for hitches for eight successive years without getting any appropriate response from the government.
Current Pension and Demands
Presently government pensioners are only being paid an average of ₹ 1,450 per month as pension. The pensioners are currently seeking an enhancement of the base pension of ₹7,500 and health care facilities to their partners. Every argument has been made to Prime Minister Modi, to the Finance Minister, and the Labor Minister, but no practical steps have been made.
Upcoming Protests
Currently the EPS-95 National Struggle Committee has claimed that if their demands are not fulfilled then they want a demonstration on the 31st July at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and on the 1st of August also at Jantar Mantar. This rally will involve all the pensioners in the country exercising the rights of demanding their requirements fulfilled.
Background of EPS Contributions
Under the EPS, 12% of the employee’s basic wages go to the Provident Fund (PF) and 8. 33% to the Employees Pension Scheme. Moreover, the government makes its own input and it is 1. 16% of the pension fund.
Nonetheless, the amount of pensions has not been an issue of increase with a corresponding consideration for inflation hence the prevailing discontent among pensioners.
