Pensioners body EPS95 National Agitation Committee on Monday has called for a nationwide protest on 5 August, in support of their demand for a minimum monthly pension of ₹7,500 under the Employee Pension Scheme. Minimum ₹1,000 pension The minimum monthly pension under the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) is ₹1,000, which was enforced on September 1, 2014. The EPS is run by retirement body EPFO. According to a press release issue by the committee, thousands of pensioners covered under EPS-95 are set to gather at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on August 5, as part of a nationwide protest demanding long-pending pension reforms. No gain from peaceful protests The demonstration has been called by the EPS95 National Agitation Committee, which says years of representations, peaceful protests, and appeals to the government have failed to bring any meaningful policy decision, it stated. The committee’s demands include the following: Pensioners pressing demands for over a decade National president of the committee Commander Ashok Raut said nearly 81 lakh EPS-95 pensioners have been pursuing these demands for over a decade. Despite repeated assurances from the government, no concrete action has been taken, he said. Raut said a large number of EPS95 beneficiaries receive an average monthly pension of about ₹1,171. The committee said that demand for a ₹7,500 minimum pension is not for special treatment but for a basic standard of social security. Protestors thinking of suicide? The committee stated that if the government continues to ignore their demands, self-immolation would be their “last resort”. Post navigation Gold and silver prices increase today:One kilogram of silver reaches ₹2.18 lakh/kg
