TNI Bureau:  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to Union Labour & Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar regarding revision of minimum pension for the EPF pension holders.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to take steps towards fulfilling the demand of EPF pensioners of the State as about 1.62 lakh EPF pensioners in Odisha are facing hardship due to non revision of the Minumum Pension.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote, “I would like to draw your kind attention to the plight of around 1.62 lakh EPF pensioners all across my state, who with a paltry monthly pension after their retirement are facing much hardships in their advanced age. Time and again these EPS-95 Pensioners’ Associations are putting forth their grievances for revision of minimum pension by the Government of India and giving their memorandum also at the state level for redressing their cause.”

The letter further stated, “In this connection they are also citing a recommendation by the Petition Committee under the Chairmanship of Sri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Hon’ble MP, Rajyasabha made during 2013 for enhancement of the monthly pension of EPS-95 pensioners, which they understand to be pending at the Government of India level for consideration.”

“The grievances of these pensioners deserve sympathetic consideration at your end as they had contributed to the nation building at their prime age. And now they should be protected by the state with reasonable financial and social security. This can be ensured by re-casting their pension structure for which they have been pursuing at every level”, Naveen wrote.