EPFO: The call to raise the minimum pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 9,000 is gaining traction. On Tuesday, pensioners in Nashik, Maharashtra, demonstrated outside the Satpur local office of the EPFO, advocating for this increase. In addition to the pension hike, they requested benefits such as a dearness allowance, complimentary government healthcare services, and inclusion in the government’s Food Security Act to address the rising cost of living.
Demand to raise the minimum pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 9,000
The protest was led by the founder of the Nashik District EPFO Pensioners Federation, who stated that they have been urging the central government for the past 15 years to raise the pension amount, emphasizing the challenges of surviving on a mere Rs 1,000. This protest aimed to capture the attention of the central authorities.
EPS-95 Movement Committee, representing pensioners, released a statement
Currently, approximately 186 institutions fall under EPF-95, encompassing around 8 million pensioners, with 1.8 million residing in Maharashtra alone. Last month, the EPS-95 Movement Committee, representing pensioners, released a statement indicating that Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has promised prompt action regarding their requests.
EPFO is set to launch a new initiative called ‘EPFO 3.0’
The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is set to launch a new initiative called ‘EPFO 3.0’. According to Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, this new system will offer convenience similar to banking, featuring numerous digital tools to facilitate transactions. This means that soon, EPFO members may be able to withdraw funds from their Provident Fund (PF) accounts at ATMs.