- tipstelugu.com

This is a post from shamrao, a senior EPS 95 pension analyst.

By email 14th july 2025

To
Sri Narendra modi ji, honourable Prime Minister of India
Dr Jitendra Singh ji , honourable minister of state, PMO for public grievances and pensions ,Govt of India, new Delhi. mos-pp@nic.in

Sub : Request for Grant of Liveable minimum pension by the cabinet meeting to rescue the EPS 95 pensioners from their ongoing agony and pathetic life for years to live the restful life , now gone on disarray by the poverty of low pension income.

Respected sir ,
Given the static position till now for hike of minimum pension of EPS 95 with DA amidst many oral assurances in positive but replies in negative given on record by the honourable ministry of labour, unconfirmed misleading news of pension hike by the media houses worsening the mental agony of retirees we, the EPS 95 pensioners having short span of life , appeal in all humility now as repeatedly submitted again and again to address our long-standing and agonizing issue of an unliveable minimum pension, which has remained unresolved for over a decade—despite persistent nationwide protests of pensioners all over the country and new delhi many times with continuous, countless memorandums, and repeated appeals from various stakeholders including Parliamentary Standing Committees and all major trade unions besides the voice of honourable members of parliament echoed in the house for a liveable minimum monthly pension linked to Dearness Allowance and accompanied by Government medical facilities that has gained nationwide support as prominently highlighted during the All India Strike on 9th July 2024, and another round of protests is scheduled on 4th and 5th August 2025 due to inaction on this humanitarian concern.
The pension is a Rightful Entitlement being a contributory service pension, earned through decades of hard work and mandatory wage-based contributions and not a charity or an ex-gratia or honorary payment to be frozen or fixed arbitrarily. It must be indexed to inflation, in line with the rising cost of living.
Minimum Pension of Rs. 9,000 + DA is Justified that reflects the basic national average cost of living and is necessary for ensuring dignity in retirement. The current pension rates have driven lakhs of senior citizens into poverty and insecurity, defeating the very purpose of a social security scheme.
The Supreme Court has clearly upheld that there is no cut-off date for exercising the option for higher pension of actual wages. Denying this right based on technicalities or past deadlines is unjust and contrary to the spirit of the EPF Act.
What matters basically is contribution to the pension fund not the timing of the option.
Medical Facilities on Par with Government Pensioners:
Most EPS-95 pensioners are aged, vulnerable, and burdened with illnesses. Denying them Government medical facilities while granting the same to other categories of pensioners is discriminatory and inhumane.
Tens of thousands of EPS-95 pensioners driven into extreme poverty doing what not menial jobs for survival are subjected to mental trauma and health risks due to financial insecurity. Many have already succumbed to illnesses aggravated by MENTAL STESS a BIGGEST ENEMY causing for HEART FAILURE, noted cardiologists put it.
Let not further more deaths of poor senior citizen EPS 95 pensioners take place so by mental stress of DIRE ECONOMIC CONDITION .
This policy system of pension – a blot on democratic country taking the lives of EPS 95 pensioners in abject poverty has remained unaddressed for decades not getting it reformed with necessary changes in EPS 95 .
Our Humble Plea:
How long must these elderly citizens—who built this nation with their sweat and hard work—suffer in silence? Why are they made to run from pillar to post for their legitimate, earned right to a basic livelihood in retirement ?
We urgently request the honourable prime minister to take a bold and humane decision in the cabinet meeting to:
Approve a minimum monthly pension of Rs. 9,000 with DA linkage
Ensure Government medical facilities for all EPS-95 pensioners
Remove any cut-off date restrictions for the higher pension option
This will not only relieve the pain and insecurity of lakhs of senior citizens but will also reflect the compassionate and inclusive governance rendering justice that our Government stands for.
The senior citizen EPS 95 pensioners crossed the age of 65 , 70 plus and 80 plus need to be taken of better care essentially ensuring their happiness in old age who are aspiring with long wait to live the life to be enjoyed every moment of golden years with near and dear ones . That has been snatched away from them by the employees pension scheme 1995 .
The EPS 95 pensioners going uncared / neglected to be faced of the struggling a unsecure life all along during retirement that does not auger well, may kindly be given a serious thought as very much sensitive being the question of basic survival to resolve the issue of liveable minimum pension linked to DA with govt medical facility immediately by the cabinet meeting putting an end to the long standing concern of pensioners to be alleviated of livelihood sufferings.
With high hopes and regards ,