From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Mar 4: Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP) has demanded hike in pension for the 5.5 crore workers covered across India by the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995.

HMKP President Michael B Fernandes said that the amount available in the accumulated corpus fund under the scheme is about Rs. 2 lakh crore and the annual average interest is about Rs. 17,000 crore.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, he said an average pension of Rs. 2,500 per month can be paid to retired workers.

Fernandes said the government assured minimum pension would be raised to Rs. 1,000 but unfortunately it has not been implemented so far.

The maximum pension paid so far is Rs. 1,850 and some get pension as low as Rs. 100, he said.

''How can the workers feed their families let alone look after their children or aged parents,” he asked.

HMKP also said minimum wages fixed were "sub-normal and the dearness allowance niggardly" which is inadequate to neutralise the rise in price of essential commodities.