NEW DELHI: Beneficiaries of The Employees Pension Scheme 1995 or EPS-95  have decided to go on a nationwide protest in 200 cities, including New Delhi, from March 15 to press for their 4-point demands which include hiked pension of Rs 7,500 per month along with dearness allowance and medical facility to self and spouses.

The Employees Pension Scheme 1995 or EPS-95 is run by the retirement fund body EPFO, which covers over six crore subscribers and over 75 lakh pensioner beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries' protest in Buldhana, Maharashtra, began in 2018 after a team of them met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past.

Ashok Raut, the chairman of the National Action Committee, "We have been fighting for justice for EPS-95 recipients for the past seven years. We saw the Prime Minister twice under the direction of BJP MP Hema Malini, and despite his assurances, the issue is still unresolved." He claimed that despite the fact that the people are beneficiaries of government-run pension funds and that the government is operating numerous programmes for their benefit, they are being marginalised.

He said Rs 1,171 is not sufficient but if they get 7,500 plus Dearness Allowance, they can live with self-respect.

The Supreme court had in November 2022 directed the government to give the option for contributing to the EPS-95 scheme on higher salaries. The current threshold for pensionable salary is Rs 15,000 per month.

The committee had also demanded the coverage of EPS-95 to be extended to all other retired employees who have not been included in the scheme, by making them ex post facto members.

Employees' Pension Scheme or EPS 95 refers to a social security plan launched by EPFO in 1995. The scheme allows organised sector employees to receive a pension after retiring at 58 years.

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