Lok Sabha Question No. 732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Recommendation of Koshyari Committee Regarding Pension
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Aparupa  Poddar, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 732 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## RECOMMENDATION OF KOSHYARI COMMITTEE REGARDING PENSION

## 732.  DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRIMATI APARUPA PODDAR:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT: DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

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

- (a)whether the Koshyari Committee has recommended for increase of minimum pension of EPS-95 Pensioners;
- (b)if so, the details and the action taken so for by the Government on
- such recommendations;
- (c)whether there is any proposal for giving dearness allowance to EPS95  pensioners  to  neutralize  the  price  index  as  given  to  Central Government pensioners;
- (d)if so, whether the Government also proposes to extend 'Ayushman Bharat  Yojana'  to  economically  vulnerable  EPS-95  pensioners  to extend health care facilities; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof and the time by which these proposals are likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) & (b): Koshyari Committee had recommended, in the year 2013, to increase   minimum  pension to Rs. 3000 per   month   and     also

enhance Government's contribution from 1.16% to at least 8.33% of wages for the members of Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995. The Government has, for the first time, in the year 2014, provided a minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month to the pensioners under EPS, 1995  by  providing  budgetary  support,  which  was  in  addition  to  the budgetary support of 1.16% of wages provided annually towards EPS. For the year 2021-22, an amount of Rs.7364 crore has been provided for  minimum  pension  and  towards  1.16%  of  wages  as  Government contribution.

- (c): The  Employees'  Pension  Fund  for  EPS,  1995  is  a  selffinanced fund. A High Empowered Monitoring Committee (HEMC) was constituted for evaluation and review of EPS, 1995 and the Committee did not recommend any linking of monthly pension with cost of living index as this may  severely affect the financial health of the Employees'  Pension  Fund,  as  assessed  by  the  Actuary  appointed  by the  Government  under  paragraph  32  of  the  EPS,  1995.  However,  as recommended by the HEMC, the Government has notified its decision vide G.S.R. 132 (E) dated 20.02.2020 for restoration of normal pension after completion of fifteen years from the date of such commutation, in respect of those members who availed the benefit of commutation of pension  under  the  erstwhile  paragraph  12A  of  the  EPS,  1995,  on  or before 25.09.2008.
- (d) & (e): The  Ayushman  Bharat  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana (PMJAY) is an entitlement based scheme and the beneficiary families are  drawn  from  Socio  Economic  Caste  Census  database  by  applying specific deprivation criteria for rural area and occupational criteria for urban area.

However, there is no provision in the EPS, 1995 to provide medical facilities to the EPS pensioners.

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