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Noting the depreciating value of old age pension by almost half in the country in the past decade, noted social activists Baba Jadhav and Aruna Roy have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that the amount paid is no less than 50 per cent of the notified minimum wage.
The letter, written on behalf of the Pension Parishad, a network of 100 civil society organisations, is in response to recent reports indicating that the Centre was considering a potential increase in pension.
“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 has remained at a meagre ₹200 per month since 2006.
“Over the past 10 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,” said the letter.
Calling for recognition of the contribution of the elderly to the progress of the country, Jadhav and Roy said the least the government could do is to ensure that they are not denied their right to live with dignity in their advanced years.
“The Task Force constituted by Ministry of Rural Development in 2012 and the Sumit Bose committees have repeatedly recommended ensuring income security for a larger number of elderly people by increasing the amount and coverage and indexing the pensions to correct for devaluation due to inflation. These recommendations have not been accepted,” the letter noted, adding that “piecemeal approaches to increasing pension amounts will not address the problem.
What is required is systematic protection and for social security of the elderly, including timely payments, social audits etc.
Jadhav and Roy have, therefore, demanded that a universal and non-contributory old age pension be established immediately with a minimum monthly pension amounting to 50 per cent of minimum wages, that it be indexed and revised periodically based on inflation, and below poverty line criteria should not be used for selection, as also Aadhaar/UID must not be made mandatory for disbursement.
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