NDA government working in opaque manner on pension issue: Aruna Roy

NEW DELHI: RTI activist Aruna Roy today accused the NDA government of working in an "opaque manner" on the issue of pension, claiming unorganised workers were not being consulted before reforms being brought in the sector.

Terming pension as a "political issue", Roy further alleged that the pension policy for unorganised sector workers had been completely changed and several restrictions had been been imposed, preventing them from getting benefits.

"The unorganised sector workers, who form 96 per cent of the total workforce, have been affected due to a complete change in the pension policy (for unorganised workers) and the restrictions that have been imposed," she said.

Pension Parishad, an initiative by Roy and other activists working for the welfare of unorganised sector, deliberated on several issues during a meeting of representatives from different states.

Roy raised the issue of universalisation of pension along with other demands which included pension determined through consumer price index and participation of unorganised sector representatives in consultation process for reforms.

Other speakers at the meeting highlighted the weaknesses in the government's Atal Pension Scheme, describing it to be "unattractive" for unorganised sector.