New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated trade union, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has urged the Narendra Modi government to restore the old pension system which was discontinued in 2004 and raise the minimum amount paid out to 65 lakh people under the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995 to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000. It also asked for the Ayushman Bharat medical scheme to be extended to all EPS 95 pensioners.
In a pre-Budget consultation of central trade unions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday, the union said pension should be uniform and not restricted to a few workers, noting that the last time such a hike was given, it was extended to only 14 lakh pensioners.
The government, it said, should respect the Supreme Court decision on pension (that it should be determined on rules existing at the time of retirement) as soon as possible. It drew attention to the parliamentary standing committee recommendation that minimum pension should be raised to Rs 3,000 from Rs 1,000.
Referring to the prevailing high unemployment rate in urban areas, the BMS also asked the government to start an urban MGNREGA programme to provide employment to the many who lost their jobs during the pandemic.
The trade union additionally demanded that senior citizens be exempted from income tax, and that interest rates be kept constant on fixed deposit schemes to ensure a smooth post-retirement income.
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Urban MGNREGA ‘need of the hour’
The BMS asked the government to start an ‘urban MGNREGA’ on the lines of the rural scheme, since urban joblessness has risen to 8.21 per cent, according to the latest monthly data compiled by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
The trade union also urged the Union finance minister to raise the duration of rural MGNREGA to 200 days from 100 days and link it with agricultural work too.
“It was rural MGNREGA which made life easier during the Covid pandemic for migrant workers. It is the need of the hour to strengthen MGNREGA, which proved its utility during the crisis. The finance minister should increase number of days under it from 100 to 200,” Vinay Kumar Sinha, national general secretary of BMS, told ThePrint.
“There is also a constant demand for an urban MGNREGA on the lines of the rural scheme… Despite the economy picking up, there is constant fear of the Omicron variant again damaging economic recovery. The government should initiate an urban scheme, given the high unemployment rates in urban centers,” Sinha added.
He also said programmes like the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana are desired when there is a sudden crisis, but policy schemes like MGNREGA are needed for long-term social and economic security of workers.
More focus on ESI health scheme
The Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh said while the Ayushman Bharat medical scheme is good, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme is by far the best health insurance scheme for labourers.
Pointing out that under the ESI scheme (which is run by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment) there is also a provision for financial help in case joblessness arises due to illness, the BMS said its scope should be widened to beedi workers and to those who work in plantations.
“ESI health insurance is more inclusive, unlike the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The government should bring more sectoral workers under it,” Sinha said.
‘Regularise contract labour’
Among other demands, the BMS asked for the regularisation of contract labour. It has also been opposed to the strategic sale of PSUs. Instead of selling them off, loss-making PSUs must be diversified and involved in joint ventures, the union said.
“There is a growing tendency to outsource jobs and hire casual workers and hire workers for the short term. It is adding to the unemployment, there is no equal pay for these contract workers. We demand productivity-linked bonuses and ad hoc bonuses for contract workers,” said Sinha.
“The economy will not flourish if we increase casualisation in work, as workers always keep an eye on another good job… Productivity is not at an optimal level due to this and it should be discouraged,” he added.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
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