Members of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, who have been drawing a monthly pension under the Contributory Pension Scheme, would see a minimum of Rs.1,000 deposited in their accounts from October 1, MP from Visakhapatnam K. Haribabu has said.
Speaking after felicitating some of the pensioners, who had so far been getting a measly Rs. 12 or even less as their monthly pension under the scheme, for becoming eligible to receive the hiked amount at a function organised at the Sub Regional Office of the EPFO on Tuesday, Mr. Haribabu conceded that the amount was not a living wage.
“A first step has been taken towards ensuring a minimum pension for workers,” he added. Responding to requests from the pensioners, he promised to follow up the issue of higher pension and health card for them.
Referring to the paltry amounts being paid under the pension scheme, Visakha West MLA P.G.V.R. Naidu said these pensioners were definitely below poverty line, and added that he would try and get priority for them in sanction of houses for the poor. “The amount is not adequate and there is a need to link it to DA, and increase it to Rs.3,500 per month,” member of the Central Board of Trustees of the EPFO M. Jagadeeswara Rao said.
Employers’ representative General Manager (HR) in Hospira J. Mallikarjun and EPFO Regional Commissioner R.K. Sahoo were among those present.
