New Delhi: Seeking various benefits under EPS-95 (the Employees’ Pension Scheme-95) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), pensioners, led by the National Agitation Committee of EPS-95, would sit on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in the national capital from January 31, 2024, starting with state-wise sequential hunger strikes, to press for their demands.
The pensioners are demanding the government to increase the minimum monthly basic pension to 7,500 rupees per month along with dearness allowance and free health facilities also to the spouses of the pensioners. Currently, the minimum pension under EPS-95 is Rs. 1,000 per month.
The Committee warned today that if its demands were not met, it would also begin state-wise sequential hunger strikes. It claimed that Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav had assured them that their demands would be addressed soon, but so far, their demands were not fulfilled.
The pensioners stated that if no decision was taken promptly on their demands, the protest may escalate to a nationwide fast unto death. “Over 50,000 pensioners from across the country are expected to participate in this agitation,” they claimed.
Commander Ashok Raut (Retd.), the president of the Committee, stated, “This is our final warning. Despite repeated assurances, no action has been taken on our demands. If our demands are not met, we will go on fast unto death. Before that, state-wise sequential hunger strikes and demonstrations will begin on January 31. If even then the government takes no action, there will be no choice but to resort to fast unto death “
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It is noteworthy that 12% of the basic salary of employees covered under EPS-95 goes into the Provident Fund, while 8.33% of the employer’s share goes into the Employees’ Pension Scheme. Additionally, the government contributes 1.16% to the pension fund. Commander Ashok Raut claimed, “After working for thirty years and consistently contributing to the EPS-based pension scheme, employees are receiving such a meagre amount as a monthly pension, making it difficult for employees and their families to sustain.”
The Committee further criticized the misinterpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision, depriving pre-September 1, 2014, retired pensioners of the benefits of higher pension.
“Therefore, the government will be once again requested not to force 75 lakh elderly individuals to sit on the roads in freezing conditions and to announce an immediate increase in the minimum pension in this budget,” the Committee stated.
It is worth mentioning that the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee has been organizing various forms of protests, demonstrations, and rallies across 28 states in the country for the past seven years to demand an increase in the minimum pension.
“The demands have been presented vigorously from the streets to the Parliament,” the Committee said, claiming that the Prime Minister, Central Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Members of Parliament from all parties were apprised of the economic difficulties faced by pensioners. A rally was held at Ramlila Maidan on December 7, 2023, followed by a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on December 8, 2023, which turned into an indefinite hunger strike on December 13, 2023.
Labour Minister Bhupendra Yadav had called a representative meeting on December 14, 2023, promising a speedy resolution. After that assurance, the indefinite hunger strike was suspended. However, even after that assurance, the Committee stated that no action was taken on the demands of pensioners.
After issuing a notice to the government at the beginning of January 2024, pensioners also held a demonstration at 110 EPFO offices across the country. But with the demands still unmet, now they have again decided for a second postponed hunger strike from tomorrow.
– global bihari bureau
