Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jul 20: Udupi Taluk Pensioners’ Convention was held at Narayana Guru Hall here on Saturday, July 20.

H Narasimha, joint secretary, Karnataka State Provident Fund Pensioners’ Association, inaugurated the programme.

In his inaugural address, he highlighted that surplus pension amount is present with the government. “Many people are getting small amounts of money. The pension amount starts from Rs 340 and goes up to Rs 2,000 per month. I am getting Rs 1,616 pension though I worked for 39 years. There is immense surplus (unnamed) money in provident fund account. This money is being used in the share market. The government is spending lots of money on various schemes.”

“Our first and foremost demand is to increase the pension amount to a minimum of Rs 6,000. This will help people lead a normal life. But the government is not taking the needs of the people into consideration. Recently, union home minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced that the government will provide public sector banks Rs 70,000 crore to boost capital and improve credit. Why do they not use it for welfare of poor and unorganised workers?” he questioned. Let the government focus on solving problems, he stressed.

Vishwanath Rai, president, CITU district committee, addressed the gathering. “The unorganised workers and beedi workers are contributing more to the economy of India. A pensioner should get half pension before 50 years and full pension after 50 years of age. There is a need to unite all pensioners. The government is investing dearness allowance in share market,” he said.

There are defects in the Pension Act and bringing amendments is responsibility of MLAs and MPs. On July 31, CITU is organising a protest meet in front of provident fund office. All organised workers are eligible to get pension from government and it is our right too.

K Shankar, general secretary, CITU Udupi district committee, H Vittal Poojary, president, Sundari, treasurer and Umesh Kundar were present.