Government must act now on minimum pension or protest at Jantar Mantar will continue

New Delhi, August 4, 2025

The EPS-95 National Agitation Committee staged a massive protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar today,
demanding an urgent increase in the minimum pension amount. The protest was led by National
President Commander Ashok Raut and saw participation from thousands of pensioners representing 27
states.

The pensioners expressed deep resentment against the Central Government, accusing it of repeated
betrayals. They pointed out that from the Prime Minister to several Union Ministers, promises had been
made to raise the minimum pension from ₹1,000 to ₹7,500, provide dearness allowance, and ensure
free medical care. These demands have been raised in Parliament multiple times, and even the
Parliamentary Committee has recommended a pension hike—yet no concrete decision has been taken.
Leading the protest, Commander Ashok Raut said, “We have shown patience for long enough, but the
situation is now intolerable. If the government doesn’t act soon, pensioners across the country will take
their voice to Parliament through democratic means. This isn’t just a protest—it’s a battle for our dignity
and rights.”

Pensioners said they have been raising these demands for over 10 years, but continued neglect and
insensitivity from the government has now become unbearable. They emphasized that this is not just
about money but about living with dignity. The movement, they declared, has reached a decisive phase
and will now grow stronger and wider. They confirmed the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue with
full intensity on August 5 as well.

National General Secretary Virendra Singh Rajawat, National Coordinator Ramakant Nargund, Women’s
Wing National Secretary Sarita Tai Narkhede, Maharashtra Coordinator Subhash Pokharkar, National
Secretary Ramesh Bahuguna, and Media In-Charge Rajeev Bhatnagar were among the many senior
representatives who addressed the gathering.

Delegates from across the country—including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh,
West Bengal, Assam, and Manipur—warned the government in one voice that if it failed to respond
soon, the movement would escalate into a full-scale nationwide campaign.

The protest also received support from Members of Parliament. Notably, Shrirang Appa Barne (Pune),
Amra Ram (Sikar, Rajasthan), and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki) visited the protest site and extended their
moral support to the movement.