EPFO- Employees Demand 7.5-Fold Pension Increase, 8.9 Million People Affected

EPFO Updates: Pensioners who are part of the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95), managed by the EPFO, are advocating for an increase in the current minimum monthly pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500, which represents a seven-and-a-half-fold rise. They plan to initiate a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar starting on March 9th.

81 lakh individuals will be impacted

Approximately 81 lakh pensioners from central and state government public sector undertakings, as well as those from cooperative/private sectors, mills, and media organizations, have been striving for their demands for the past nine years under the EPS 95 National Struggle Committee, according to a statement. The committee mentioned that they have reached out to the Prime Minister, all Union Ministers, and MPs from various parties, but their pleas are being overlooked by the government.

Dharna from March 9 to March 11

The statement highlighted that despite making regular pension contributions to the EPFO for 30 to 35 years, pensioners are still receiving an average monthly pension of just Rs 1,171. In contrast, pensions are being distributed through various government schemes without any contributions. The committee claimed that due to these inadequate pensions and the absence of free medical care, around 200-250 pensioners are dying prematurely each day across the nation. Frustrated by the ongoing neglect, the pensioners will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on March 9, 10, and 11, coinciding with the start of the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament, the statement concluded.

According to a report, the National Agitation Committee said that appeals have been made to the Prime Minister, all Union Ministers and MPs of all parties, but the government is ignoring the calls of elderly pensioners. It said that even after depositing pension contributions regularly with EPFO ​​during 30 to 35 years of service, pensioners are still being given an average monthly pension of Rs 1,171.