New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday sharply criticized the social security policies of the Modi government, highlighting the weakening of pension and welfare schemes over the past 12 years.
“Over the past nearly 12 years of the Modi government’s tenure, several social security schemes have gradually weakened, or have been deliberately weakened,” Ramesh said in a post on handle X. “Even a basic facility like pensions has remained largely unchanged for a long time despite rising inflation,” he said.
Ramesh pointed out that this has had a direct impact on elderly and economically weaker pensioners, who are among the most vulnerable sections of society. “In the current period, when inflation is at its peak due to poor government policies, and the costs of healthcare and everyday essentials have risen sharply, a minimum EPF pension of Rs 1,000 is effectively a mockery,” he added.
The leader cited the findings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which recently reported that the monthly pension of Rs 1,000 under the 1995 pension scheme is completely inadequate in today’s context. The committee recommended that the minimum pension be increased to a level that reflects the cost of living and ensures a dignified standard of life.
“This is an issue related to the social security and dignified living of millions of retired workers,” Ramesh said. He also expressed hope that the government would respond to the committee’s recommendations. “It is hoped that after this report by the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development—headed by a Lok Sabha MP from the BJP—the government will take note and take concrete steps in this regard,” he said.
The comments come amid growing public concern over inflation and the rising cost of essential goods, which have placed additional strain on fixed-income pensioners across India. Analysts note that reforming pension schemes has long been a contentious issue, with debates over adequacy, coverage, and the need to adjust benefits to current economic realities. UNI SKA AAB
