Lok Sabha Question No. 1501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: EPS Pensioners of 1995
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1501 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## EPS PENSIONERS OF 1995

†1501. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government proposes to revise the pension laws implemented
- in the year 1995;
- (b)whether the Government is accepting the recommendations made in the report submitted by Bhagat Singh Koshyari Committee in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take  any  steps  to provide  atleast  7500/-  rupees  basic  pension  and  dearness  allowance thereon to the EPS pensioners of the year 1995 besides providing free of cost health facilities to the pensioners and their families;
- (d)whether the Government has also received representatives from the EPS
- pensioners of the year 1995 regarding their collective demand;
- (e)if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)the action taken or to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): Amendment of the Employees' Pension Scheme is a continuous process  and  is  done  as  and  when  necessitated  in  consultation  with stakeholders.
- (b): Due  to  financial  constraints  in  increase  in  Government  share under Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 and to maintain sustainability  of  the  Employees'  Pension  Fund,  the  recommendations  of the Koshiyari Committee have not been accepted. However, the Government  has  started  providing  a  minimum  pension  of  Rs.  1000/-  per month to the pensioners under EPS, 1995 from 01.09.2014.

- (c): A  pilot  scheme  to  extend  medical  benefits  to  Employees' Pension  Scheme  (EPS)  1995  pensioners  drawing  minimum  pension  upto Rs.  1000/-  per  month  under  EPS,  1995  and  residing  in  Delhi  has  been drafted. The Scheme would be optional to those pensioners who give their willingness  for  deduction  of  Rs.100/-  per  month  from  and  out  of  their pension disbursed on monthly basis.
- (d) to (f): Representations are received from individual EPS, 1995 pensioners  as  well  as  pensioners  associations  raising  various  demands like:
- (i) To increase the minimum pension to Rs. 2000/ Rs. 3000/Rs. 7500 per month.
- (ii) To link the monthly pension with cost of living index.
- (iii) Restoration of commuted value of pension.
- (iv) Re-introduction of the provision of commutation of pension.
- (v) Restoration of the provision of Return of Capital.
- (vi)  Reduction  in  the  period  for  calculation  of  monthly  average pensionable salary from 60 months to 12 months.
- (vii) Payment of pension on Higher Wages to employees of exempted establishments.

Various representations received were placed before the High Empowered Monitoring Committee constituted by the Government of India for  complete  evaluation  and  review  of  EPS  1995.  The  committee  has submitted its report on 21.12.2018 to the Government.

********