RSS-affiliate union seeks extension of mandatory work under MGNREGA to 200 days in pre-Budget meet
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, an RSS-affiliate central trade union, demanded the Centre extend the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme for 200 days for each family from 100 now, inclusion of agriculture and allied sector work under the scheme and restoration of the old pension scheme.
In its pre-budget meeting with the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BMS general secretary Ravindra Himte demanded increasing the minimum pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 while enhancing of honorarium of scheme workers, especially for Asha, Aanganwadi, Mid-day Meal and National Health Mission workers.
“The government must ensure provision of adequate funding for Beedi and other unorganised sector welfare boards and a minimum monthly pension of Rs 5000 and variable dearness allowance along with benefits of Ayushman Bharat for all EPS 95 pensioners,” it said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“BMS demanded that the central government must take quick steps to fill all vacancies under the central government which currently stand close to 20 lakhs,” it said, adding that it has proposed creation of permanent posts for sanitary and sewerage workers in municipalities and panchayats and regularization of all contract workers in the arena working for over two decades. Besides, it demanded enhancement of the income tax limit to give relief to the middle class and urged the government to immediately constitute the 8th Pay Commission.
BMS is of the view that the Union Budget
