Latest news with #Vaiko
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Will minimum EPS-95 pension be hiked this festive season? Govt responds in Parliament
What is EPS? Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Questions on minimum pension under EPF-95 Is there any decision expected ahead of the upcoming festive season? Pensioners in India are looking forward to a long-awaited increase in the minimum monthly pension amount under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-95). The current minimum pension is Rs. 1,000 per month, but trade unions, pensioners' associations and public representatives have been urging the government to raise the government has also confirmed that it has received many requests from trade unions and public representatives for an increase in the minimum Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) is a retirement benefit plan introduced by the Indian government in 1995 to provide financial security to employees after they stop working. It is part of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) framework. While, EPF serves as a lump sum retirement corpus, EPS provides pension upon retirement. This pension varies depending on the member salary and years of service. The funds in EPS need not be contributed Wealth Online tells you in detail the questions asked by the Members of Parliament on the minimum pension hike and the government's reply on the read: Higher pension: These central government employees to get pension hike due to minor salary increase Members of Parliament Vaiko and M. Shanmugam asked various questions on minimum pension.(a) Whether the demand to enhance minimum pension in Employees Pension Scheme (EPS-95) is under consideration of Government for a long time?(b) If so, by when Government will take a decision, especially in view of mounting pressure from the trade unions and the court judgments?(c) The constraint in increasing the EPF pension when there are sufficient funds available in the corpus fund and the accumulated unclaimed funds? and(d) Whether Government would expedite a decision in view of coming festival season?The government responded to the questions in Parliament:Representations have been received from various stakeholders including trade unions and public representatives to increase the minimum pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 from existing Rs. 1000/- per month. The EPS, 1995 is a "Defined Contribution-Defined Benefit" Social Security Scheme. The corpus of the Employees' Pension Fund is made up of (i) contribution by the employer @ 8.33 per cent of wages; and (ii) contribution from Central Government through budgetary support @ 1.16 per cent of wages up to an amount of Rs.15,000/- per month. All benefits under the scheme are paid out of such accumulations. The fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of the EPS, 1995 and as per the valuation of the fund as on 31.03.2019, there is an actuarial deficit. However, the Government is providing a minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS, 1995 by providing budgetary support, which is in addition to the budgetary support of 1.16 per cent of wages provided annually towards EPS to Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).There is no confirmation of a pension hike before the festive season. The government did not commit to a timeline but reiterated that it continues to provide budgetary support to ensure the minimum Rs 1,000 pension.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Vaiko a tiger in Parliament: CM Stalin bids farewell as veteran's fourth Rajya Sabha stint ends
CHENNAI: Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Friday termed MDMK general secretary Vaiko a 'tiger' in the Parliament as the veteran leader bid an emotional farewell to his current tenure in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. 'He has consistently raised his voice to uphold the rights of Tamil Nadu. I hope his efforts for the rights of Tamils will continue for ever, as he remains a pillar of the Dravidian movement,' Stalin said, adding he watched the farewell speech of the leader in the RS on TV from the hospital where is currently admitted. In his farewell speech, Vaiko thanked former CM M Karunanidhi and Stalin for nominating him to the House. Karunanidhi nominated him thrice and Stalin once, in 2019. Vaiko said he had raised 13 attention motions in the House on the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils. Earlier, Stalin also appreciated DMK MPs M Shanmugam and MM Abdullah, whose tenure also ended on Thursday. He also conveyed his wishes to actor Kamal Haasan, P Wilson, SR Sivalingam and poet Salma who were sworn in as MPs on Friday. PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss's tenure also ended on Thursday, but he was not present in the House.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vaiko spoke for Tamils, marginalised in Parliament for 30 years, says Durai Vaiko
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) principal secretary and Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko on Friday said party founder Vaiko had spent three decades in Parliament voicing the concerns of Tamils and marginalised communities. His tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP formally ended earlier this week. Addressing the media at the Coimbatore airport, Durai Vaiko said his father first entered Parliament in 1978 with the support of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. 'From interlinking of rivers and Eelam Tamils to labour rights and social justice, he raised issues that mattered to the people,' he said. He recalled that Vaiko had introduced a private member bill on river-linking and was among the first to demand a national holiday on May Day. Durai Vaiko added that the MDMK would hold a large public conference in Tiruchi on September 15. 'It will be an important moment in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Strengthening the party's organisation is our focus now.' To a question about Mallai Sathya he said, 'Let us not get caught in diversions. Our concern is with the people's issues. That's what we will speak about.' On alliance talks and seat-sharing, he said discussions had not begun and the party would comment at the appropriate time.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vaiko to lead State-wide campaigns on Tamil Nadu's livelihood issues
The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), on Friday (July 25, 2025), announced that party general secretary Vaiko is set to lead a series of campaigns at eight locations across Tamil Nadu. In a statement, the party said, in a bid to defend Tamil Nadu's livelihood interests and safeguard democracy, Mr. Vaiko will lead campaigns beginning in Thoothukudi on August 9, demanding the ouster of the Sterlite copper plant. He will also lead campaigns in Kadaiyanallur on secularism and federalism; in Cumbum on the Mullaperiyar dam and the India-based Neutrino Observatory project; in Dindigul on the struggles of farmers and fishermen; in Kumbakonam on the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery by the Karnataka government and on coalbed methane extraction; in Neyveli on issues related to the Neyveli Lignite Corporation; in Tiruppur opposing Hindi imposition; and in Chennai on social justice and the legacy of the Dravidian movement, the statement added.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi Confidential: ‘Be Kind'
Amid the pandemonium in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Deputy Chairman Harivansh had a special request for the Opposition — to let MDMK MP Vaiko raise an issue in the Zero Hour as he (Vaiko) is retiring on Thursday. 'Be kind to him,' Harivansh requested the Opposition MPs. Seeing CPI(M) member John Brittas trying to calm down his colleagues in the Opposition, Harivansh asked him to 'help Vaiko'. In his last chance to raise a matter of public importance during this term, the senior MP known for his fiery speeches, spoke on his favourite topic — the plight of fishermen. He urged the Central government to take immediate steps to secure release of Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan authorities. A press briefing by the Congress leadership from J&K on the issue of statehood was conspicuously missed by the party's state president — Tariq Hameed Karra. Those who addressed the media at the party headquarters in Delhi were J&K CLP leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh, general secretary in-charge (J&K and Ladakh) Naseer Hussain and spokesperson Ravinder Sharma. Karra was present at a meeting of Congress leaders from J&K with the party brass in Delhi on Tuesday evening. His absence led to some speculation in the party circles in Srinagar and Delhi, but sources close to him said he was unwell. With the shift to the new complex imminent, officers from ministries located in North Block and other government buildings have started visiting their new offices at the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings. A rush of government cars can be seen entering and exiting the complex, which is yet to be inaugurated. It is learnt that officers have been going to see their new offices, try out their desks and see to the finishing touches. The shifting is likely to start after the Monsoon Session of Parliament ends in August.
