Old age pension plea to Modi

New Delhi: Pension Parishad, a network of over 100 civil society organisations, has written to the Prime Minister urging him to ensure a monthly universal non-contributory old age pension that is at least 50 per cent of the minimum wage of the state concerned.

The letter - written by RTI activist Aruna Roy and social worker Baba Adhav on behalf of Pension Parishad - comes in the wake of media reports that the government is considering an increase in the pension amount but it still falls short of the 50 per cent of the minimum wage mark.

"We have been acutely distressed at the complete neglect of the government and the low priority accorded to the social security pension schemes in successive governments. The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) has remained at a meagre Rs 200 per month since 2006. Over the past ten years, this has depreciated in value by 50 per cent and it now amounts to less than a day's minimum wage in most parts of India," the letter pointed out.

Apart from increasing the pension amount to at least 50 per cent of the minimum wage, Pension Parishad has also urged the Prime Minister to ensure that this monthly payment is indexed and revised periodically in line with inflation. Also, BPL should not be used as a criterion for eligibility, it said, and disbursement should be de-linked from Aadhaar.