Lok Sabha members support Bill to provide Rs 5,000 monthly pension

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha members today supported a private member's bill that seeks to provide Rs 5,000 monthly pension for retired persons from unorganised sectors.

The National Minimum Pension (Guarantee) Bill, 2014, introduced by BJP member Nishikant Dubey last month, also envisages setting up of a National Pension Board. Jagdambika Pal (BJP) said the bill, if enacted, would provide social security and protection to unorganised sector workers.

Saying that Rs 5,000 monthly pension is reasonable amount as of now, Pal said in future the pension amount should be linked to inflation. "It is our duty to provide post-retirement benefit to these people who have contributed to the development of society," he said.

Among others, the bill seeks to set up a National Pension Fund with a corpus of Rs 50,000 crore. The National Pension Board would have the responsibility of maintaining record of persons who have retired from employment in unorganised sector as well as of those who are 60 years old and not getting the minimum pension.