New Delhi, March 7, 2026:

The EPS-95 National Agitation Committee (NAC) has announced a three-day nationwide protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from March 9 to March 11, bringing together pensioners from across the country to demand urgent reforms in the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95).

The protest, led by NAC National President Commander Ashok Raut, will coincide with the second phase of the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, with pensioners seeking to draw the attention of lawmakers to what they describe as the worsening financial condition of millions of retired workers.

Nearly 81 lakh pensioners across India are currently dependent on the EPS-95 scheme administered by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Despite contributing to the pension fund for 30 to 35 years during their service, the average monthly pension under the scheme remains around ₹1,171.

An estimated 81 lakh pensioners from central and state government public sector undertakings, cooperative and private sector establishments, mills, and media organisations have been raising their voices under the banner of the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, led by its National President Commander Ashok Raut. For the past nine years, the organisation has carried forward a sustained movement — from protests on the streets to appeals before policymakers — seeking justice for pensioners and pressing for the fulfilment of its four key demands.

During this period, the NAC has submitted repeated representations to the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, and Members of Parliament across party lines, urging them to address the plight of elderly pensioners. However, the committee says that despite these appeals, the concerns of pensioners have largely remained unaddressed.

Pensioners point out that after contributing regularly to the EPFO pension fund for 30 to 35 years of service, many retirees are still receiving an average monthly pension of around ₹1,171, an amount they say is grossly inadequate to meet even basic living expenses. The NAC has also questioned why contributory pensioners continue to receive such meagre pensions while several welfare schemes provide financial assistance without long-term contributions.

The organisation further claims that the combination of extremely low pensions and the absence of comprehensive free medical care has pushed many elderly pensioners into severe hardship. According to NAC leaders, financial distress and lack of access to proper healthcare are contributing to the premature deaths of an estimated 200–250 pensioners across the country every day.

Commander Ashok Raut, National President of the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee, said, “The EPS-95 National Agitation Committee has been consistently raising the voice of pensioners across the country for nearly a decade. These pensioners spent their entire working lives contributing to the nation’s economy and to the EPFO pension fund. Yet today many of them are forced to survive on a pension that is not enough to meet even their basic daily expenses. Through this protest during the Parliament session, we are appealing to the government and Members of Parliament to address the long-pending issue of EPS-95 pensioners with urgency.”

Large delegations of pensioners affiliated with the EPS-95 National Agitation Committee from various states are expected to travel to Delhi to participate in the protest. The NAC leadership said the demonstration is intended to highlight the urgent need for pension reforms and to seek immediate intervention from the government.

The main demands of the pensioners are: –

1- A minimum pension of ₹7,500 per month plus dearness allowance should be provided.

2- Pensioners and spouces should be provided free medical care.

3- As per the Supreme Court’s decision of 4-11-2022, everyone should be given the benefit of higher pension equally.

4- Pensioners who were excluded from the EPS-95 scheme should be given a pension of ₹5,000 per month.