At the end of 5 days dharna (7-11 May,
2012) by Pension Parishad that was held at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, a press
meet was held at Press Club of India on 11 May, 2012. Leader of the campaign
Aruna Roy (MKSS) informed the media that more than 3000 persons from 22 states
stayed during the 5 days dharna so as to demand for universal old age pension
entitlement. She said that unorganized sector workers comprise 93 percent of
the workforce but have no access to social security benefits. Nearly 10 percent
of the Indian population is above 60 years. Putting pressure on the electoral
system is essential for realizing the old age pension entitlement. Politicians
across party lines visited the dharna site so as to express their solidarity on
the demand for universal old age pension. On the 3rd day of the
dharna, Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh visited the dharna site of
Pension Parishad and promised that he would try to raise the monthly pension
amount under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) from
Rs. 200/- to Rs. 500/- and remove the distinction between APL and BPL. He also
said that old age limit would be brought to 60 years for the universal old age
pension. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD) said that monthly pension should be
increased to Rs. 3000/-. Aruna Roy informed that for 3 days (7-9 May, 2012)
during the dharna, public hearings on issues related to the elderly, the
marginalized & vulnerable groups and public accountability took place.
Resolutions passed by
marginalized & vulnerable groups (dalits, tribal, sex workers, transgender
persons. Disabled, MSMs, people living with HIV) on the 3rd day of
dharna are:
* Monthly pension should not be less
than Rs. 2000/-
* Pension should be linked to the
Consumer Price Index
* Pensions should be disbursed on a
specific day each month
* Simplify documentation for getting
pension
* A single window system must be put
in place for disbursing pension
* Transgender, sex worker and other
vulnerable and marginalized communities not covered by any form of social
security must be given a pension
* Old age people who fall ill should
be given free medicines
* Pension and cheap foodgrain must be
made available to the Jharia community which has witnessed a growing number of
starvation deaths
Resolutions passed on
Right to Food on the 4th day of dharna are:
* Universal public distribution system
(PDS) and no distinction between APL and BPL
* Include pulses and edible oil under
PDS
* Universal old age pension cannot be
used as a basis for reducing PDS entitlement or denying Antyodaya Anna Yojna
(AAY) entitlement
* All destitute elderly should have
access to cooked food from Mid Day Meal (MDM)/ Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS)
Aruna Roy complained that despite Baba
Adhav receiving the Times of India Lifetime award, not much press coverage was
given by the latter to the former during the pension dharna [see: Baba Adhav
to receive ToI social impact lifetime achievement award-Rukmini Shrinivasan,
The Times of India, 30 September, 2011, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-30/mumbai/30229977_1_baba-adhav-social-activist-ek-panavtha].
She said that a delegation would try to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. She,
however, refuted that National Advisory Council (NAC) is the platform from
where she participated in the 5 days dharna. She said that there is a long way
to go before the policy on old age pension becomes a legislation.
Vimla Ben, an activist associated with
Pension Parishad said that slums in Delhi exhibit much poorer living conditions
than the villages in rural areas. Sanitation condition in slums has reached its
nadir. A report produced by her organization, which was submitted to Rakesh
Mehta of Delhi Government revealed that the distinction between APL and BPL
under the PDS has created rift among the population. Elderly population is the
most neglected section among the population.
Baba Adhav, veteran leader of
unorganised workers in Maharashtra, said that the objective of Social Security
Act 2008 was to provide social security at old age, providing identity cards to
unorganized sector workers and disease relief coverage. Even after 4 years of
the passing of the Social Security Act, government has failed to provide social
security to unorganized sector workers. The demand for pension is related to
social justice. From Pune, 25 hamal workers came to Delhi on motorcycles to
join the dharna at Jantar Mantar. He said that 22 Members of Parliament (MPs) from
various political parties visited the dharna venue. Although Jairam Ramesh said
that a monthly pension of Rs. 2000/- is too high but he was ready for a monthly
pension of Rs. 500/-. Expenditure made by jail authorities on a prisoner is
higher than what the government spends on a pensioner. He said that Congress MP
Manick Tagore got 40 signatures from his colleagues to be submitted to the PM
so as to demand universal old age pension. The President of India has shown her
support for the movement and she donated Rs. 15000/- to Pension Parishad. Pension
should become a right, Baba Adhav emphasized. Pension Parishad would try to
reach every district of the country. Since journalists are not covered by
pension, so they too should become part of the movement. There is an obligation
on the part of privileged classes to pay for pension of unorganized sector
workers. He gave the example of South Africa where pension system is quite
strong and was recently visited by the President.
Prabhat Patnaik (former member of the
Kerala State Planning Board and ex-faculty member JNU) said that the struggle for
universal old age pension is led by Aruna Roy and Baba Adhav. He said that
people are not simply asking for a rise in pension which is being given to the
poor. It is a demand for realization of a Constitutional right. The struggle is
significant since it is for realizing a Constitutional right to life. Right is
universal—it makes no distinction between APL and BPL. If pension becomes a
right, adequate means has to become the objective. That is why Rs. 2000/- per
month was demanded by Pension Parishad. Once pension becomes a right, it is
incumbent on the government to find resources for pensioners. Prabhat Patnaik
asked that if there is a war, won’t the government fight or will it postpone it
for next year by giving the excuse of fiscal constraint. The government jolly
well has to raise funds for pension if it is a right. Universality of the right
compels the government to find resources. Giving of pensions would increase purchasing
power of the poor, which in turn would provide stimulus to the economy without
worsening the balance of payment (BoP). The historical juncture has come for
demanding universal old age pension, Prabhat told.
Ravi Srivastava ((former member of the
National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector and faculty member
JNU) congratulated Pension Parishad for bringing together so many people on the
issue of universal pension. He said that there is an attempt to portray such
movements as irresponsible in the backdrop of lower growth by a section of the
media. Social rights and human rights are denied on similar pretexts when
resources are demanded. On 15 May, 2006 the first report submitted by the National
Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) to the PM was on
universal social security for unorganized sector. Due to crisis like accidents,
maternity, diseases, workers in this sector fall into poverty trap and
destitution. Under the universal social security legislation, the NCEUS
demanded coverage of 3 things: life cover (including accidents), health
expenses and old age pension. It, therefore, asked the government to spend 0.5
percent of GDP on universal social security for the unorganized sector workers.
The earlier UPA government missed a huge opportunity to give universal social
security. Since spending on health, education and shelter costs something to
the exchequer, a viable strategy is needed to raise resources and taxation
becomes essential. Government has to commit to social justice and income
redistribution. Recently a committee constituted by the Planning Commission has
recommended for health coverage as was done previously by the NCEUS. Ravi
Srivastava agreed that pension should be linked to minimum wages. No APL-BPL
distinction should be made under the universal old age pension. UPA should not
miss the opportunity this time, he added.
Image courtesy:
Pension Parishad
References:
Parishad to intensify campaign for universal
old-age pension-K Balchand, The Hindu, The Hindu, 12 May, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3409440.ece
Pratibha backs demand for expanding old age pension scheme, The Hindu, 11 May, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3405304.ece
Notes from the Pension Parishad held
at TISS,
Press Conference: Demand for Universal
Old Age Pension Entitlement,
Old age blues-Sreelatha Menon, The
Business Standard, 6 May, 2012, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sreelatha-menon-old-age-blues/473503/
Elderly people to stage dharna-K
Balchand, The Hindu, 4 May, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3384811.ece
Universal old age pension sought for
elderly citizens, The Asian Age, 4 May, 2012, http://www.asianage.com/india/universal-old-age-pension-sought-elderly-citizens-963
Universal Pension Demanded for
Elderly, 4 May, 2012, http://beyondheadlines.in/2012/05/universal-pension-demanded-for-elderly/
Aruna Roy seeks universal pension
rights for elderly-Puja Bhattacharjee, Governance Now, 4 May, 2012, http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/aruna-roy-seeks-universal-pension-rights-elderly
Unorganized Workers' Social Security
Act, 2008,
DIGNITY FOR THE ELDERLY: JOIN THE
CAMPAIGN,
