EPS 95 PENSIONERS LATEST NEWS ON MINIMUM PENSION HIKE 7500+DA FROM LOKSABHA ON 1, JULY 2019

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:    1501

ANSWERED ON:     01.07.2019
EPS Pensioners of 1995
Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas
Prataprao  Jadhav

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT    be pleased to state:-

• Whether the Government proposes to revise the pension laws implemented in the year 1995;
• Whether the Government is accepting the recommendations made in the report submitted by Bhagat Singh Koshyari Committee in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
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• Whether the Government has taken or proposes to take any steps to provide atleast 7500/- rupees basic pension and dearness allowance thereon to the EPS pensioners of the year 1995 besides providing free of cost health facilities to the pensioners and their families;
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• Whether the Government has also received representatives from the EPS pensioners of the year 1995 regarding their collective demand;
• 
  
• if so, the details thereof; and
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• The action taken or to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a):    Amendment of the Employees’ Pension Scheme is a continuous process and is done as and when necessitated in consultation with stakeholders.

(b):    Due to financial constraints in increase in Government share under Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 and to maintain sustainability of the Employees’ Pension Fund, the recommendations of the Koshiyari Committee have not been accepted. However, the Government has started providing a minimum pension of Rs. 1000/- per month to the pensioners under EPS, 1995 from 01.09.2014.

(c):    A pilot scheme to extend medical benefits to Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995 pensioners drawing minimum pension upto Rs. 1000/- per month under EPS, 1995 and residing in Delhi has been drafted. The Scheme would be optional to those pensioners who give their willingness for deduction of Rs.100/- per month from and out of their pension disbursed on monthly basis.

(d) to (f):    Representations are received from individual EPS, 1995 pensioners as well as pensioners associations raising various demands like:

(i)    To increase the minimum pension to Rs. 2000/ Rs. 3000/Rs. 7500 per month.

(ii) To link the monthly pension with cost of living index.

(iii) Restoration of commuted value of pension.

(iv) Re-introduction of the provision of commutation of pension.

(v) Restoration of the provision of Return of Capital.

(vi)    Reduction in the period for calculation of monthly average pensionable salary from 60 months to 12 months.

(vii) Payment of pension on Higher Wages to employees of exempted establishments.

Various representations received were placed before the High Empowered Monitoring Committee constituted by the Government of India for complete evaluation and review of EPS 1995. The committee has submitted its report on 21.12.2018 to the Government.