Under the leadership of All-India EPS-95 Pensioners’ Sangharsh Samiti protests were organised in New Delhi on a host of demands of the pensioners.
Around 150 representatives from AP participated in the protests, according to South India and AP coordinator C.S. Prasada Reddy. Visakhapatnam zone coordinator Maturi Srinivasa Rao and Ramalingeswara Rao of SAIL were among those who participated.
Mr. Reddy said it was beginning of the struggle for justice. He, however, said the Ministry of Labour and Employment was sympathetic towards the demands of the EPS-95 pensioners.
The Samiti all-India Convener Ashok Raut, who led the protests, said for three days from December 4 hunger strike was organised in front of the EPFO Office. On December 6, a representation was submitted to Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar in New Delhi. The Minister held a meeting with Commander Raut and other representatives soon after receiving the representation.
On December 7, a rally was taken out from Ram Leela Maidan to Parliament. He said around 20,000 pensioners from all over the country participated. A memoranddum was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Commander Raut said after contribution on pensionable salary for decades the pension received ranged from ₹ 250 to ₹ 2500. If the money was deposited and compound interest calculated the pension would come to around ₹15,000 a month. Hence the minimum pension should be fixed at ₹ 7500 plus D.A., the samithi demanded.
To do justice to the 17 crore EPFO contributors and 60 lakh retired persons, the Supreme Court order on collecting contribution for full salary and paying full pension should be implemented withdrawing the EPFO circular of May 31, 2017, he demanded.
To do justice to those who were left out of the EPS-95 scheme should be included ex post facto and after book adjustment should be made eligible for pension, he said and the EPS-95 pensioner and spouse should be provided free medical facility.
