“Nation Builders Turned Beggars: The Tragic Story of EPS ’95 Pensioners”

This is the post from Srinivasa Rao, EPS 95 Pension Analyst

“Employees who contributed for the development of the country became beggars before the same Government”

As per Page No: 1 of the Annual Report of 1974-1975 (52 years back) of EPFO

The Social security Schemes of other countries are generally financed either by the resources of the respective states or are a tax to the employers without any resultant benefit to them.

The distinguishing character of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Family Pension Scheme is that it is equally beneficial to all the workers, employers and Government.

To the workers, it provides an umbrella for the rainy days in the shape of old age and survivorship benefits, a long term protection and security to his family in case of his premature death; sickness benefits, timely advances during the period of un-employment and for construction of a dwelling house, etc.

to employers, it provides a steady labour force which is essential for the productivity and prosperity of the institution;

to the Government, it provides funds of considerable magnitude for utilisation towards completion of various projects and programmes which are designed to promote economic and social development of the country.

Comment: This is the countribution of the Employees convered by Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 since 1st November, 1952 i.e., for the past nearly 74 years.

Till 31-12-2003 (from 01-01-2004 Contributory Pension scheme, 2004 came into existence) no Central Government employees nor State Government employee contributed for the Economic and Social deveopment of the country.

The value of the assents created with the contributions of the industrial workers raised umpteem times by now.

By their services, the industrial worker became the driving force behind “Make in India”.

For no contribution, Central Government employees are gifted with Unified Pension Scheme w.e.f. 01-04-2025 with a choice to opt for the same to those employees got appointed on or after 01-01-2004 and covered by Contributory Pension Scheme. This Pension Scheme is linked to Cost of Living Index and will be 50% of the last 10 months Wages.

Whereas Industrial workers was given a Pension which has not seen any rise for the past 30 years (16-11-1995 to 16-11-2025) and remained with a minimum of 1,000/- i.e., subject to conditions.

Elderly people (who are of the same age as EPS,’95 Pensioners) getting Old Age Pension for free ranging from 1,000/- to 4,000/-from state to state.

Woman in the age group of 18 to 60 years are provided Monthly Cash Assistance:

going to be implemented in West Bengal where the same Government which is at the Centre came to power and going to pay 3,000/- per month for Free soon.

Tamil Nadu’s new Government, going to enhance the Cash Assistance from 1,000/- to 2,500/- soon.

Karnataka is already providing for the past 3 years 2,500/- per month.

So is the case with other State also

But with 11,00,000 Crores as Corpus as on 31-03-2026 and 1,30,000 Crores as yearly income and with Pension expenditure of 15,000 Crores only,

EPS,’95 Pensioners are reduced the status of Beggars before the Government for ehancement of Minimum Pension since so many years.

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