New Delhi: The Central Government has met a delegation of EPS-95 pensioners and assured to provide every possible help in order to give them relief.

Senior pensioners, falling under the age of 60 to 80 years, are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike from December 4 at Bhikaji Cama Place-based EPFO Office at New Delhi to pressurise the Central government to a hike their pension.

Union Minister of Labour and Employment , Santosh Gangwar, met with the delegation and assured that them that his ministry will raise the matter with the Finance Minister and propose to increase the pension of the EPS-95 pensioners.

“Our delegation met with Minister Gangwar and demanded that the Minister should forward the duly recommended proposal for enhancement in minimum pension to Rs 7500/- with DA and withdraw EPFO interim Advisory of 31/5/2017 for a higher pension on actual salary. The Labour Minister has assured that the government will take every possible step to help the pensioners,” said Commander Ashok Raut, President of EPF Rashtriya Sangharsh Samiti.

Commander Ashok Raut added further, “I have full faith in PM Narendra Modiji and he will surely accept our long pending genuine demand, which will help us live our lives with dignity and peacefully.”

Nearly  60 lakh EPS-95 pensioners, who are receiving pensions in the range of Rs 200 to Rs 2500 post-retirement, are protesting against the low pension. On December 4, thousands of such pensioners formed a human chain in front of Labour Ministry office to press for their demand.

They had set a deadline of December 6 for the government to listen to their demands, failing which the pensioners had threatened to commit mass suicides on December 7 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The protest bear fruits as the government have finally agreed to listen to their demands and take a positive step in that direction.

The pensioners are demanding rs 7500 plus DA  that  is derived from the recommendations of  Koshiyari  committee, which stated that the minimum monthly pension must be increased to Rs 3000, plus DA in 2013  must be accepted. The employees who were not brought under the ambit of EPS-95 must be given a monthly pension of Rs 5000