Pensioners’ Forum Submits 13-Point Demand Memorandum to PM Through Kanpur MP

A delegation from the Pensioners’ Forum, led by General Secretary Anand Awasthi, submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister through Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi. The memorandum outlines 13 pending demands of retired employees, including pension reforms, DA arrears payment, income tax exemption for pensioners, and restoration of the old pension scheme.

By Dharmendra Bajpai Mar 14, 2026, 19:53 IST

A delegation from the Pensioners’ Forum submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister through Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi, urging the government to address 13 long-pending demands of retired employees.

The delegation, led by Forum General Secretary Anand Awasthi, handed over the memorandum to the office-in-charge at the MP’s office in his absence. The action followed a decision taken during the forum’s meeting held on February 15, 2026.

Members of the delegation said that pensioners stand with the government in challenging times and remain committed to supporting the nation.

Key Demands Raised by Pensioners

The memorandum highlights several major issues affecting retired employees across the country.

One of the primary demands is the inclusion of pensioners in decisions related to the 8th Pay Commission. The forum has also requested that 50% of the Dearness Allowance be merged with basic salary and pension.

The delegation further demanded income tax exemption for all pensioners.

Another significant demand relates to EPS-95 pensioners, where the forum has called for the implementation of the Koshiyari Committee’s recommendation to provide a minimum pension of ₹7,500 along with Dearness Allowance.

The memorandum also seeks the restoration of concessions for senior citizens in railways and other services that were discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional Benefits for Senior Citizens

The forum also urged the government to review and approve proposals for additional pension benefits based on age, including:

5% additional pension at the age of 65
10% at the age of 70
15% at the age of 75
20% at the age of 80

Among other demands, the forum has called for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, provision of CGHS facilities for retired IIT employees, and the introduction of a nationwide travel facility once every two years for pensioners along with an assistant.

Payment of Pending DA Arrears

The delegation also requested the government to reconsider the payment of 18 months of Dearness Relief that was withheld during the COVID-19 period.

Additionally, the forum proposed reducing the pension commutation deduction period from 15 years to 12 years.

The memorandum also highlighted the need to ensure that final judgments of the Supreme Court are implemented uniformly across all affected individuals, which would reduce the need for repeated litigation and prevent unnecessary delays in justice.

Members Present in the Delegation

Prominent members present during the submission of the memorandum included Rajesh Shukla (President), B. L. Gulbiya, Satya Narayan, R.P. Shukla, Subhash Chandra Bhatia, Jiya Lal Yadav, Ashok Kumar Srivastava, Bhanu Prakash Nigam, R.P. Verma, A.K. Nigam, Umesh Shukla, Kapil Dev, Ramakant Katiyar, and K.K. Srivastava, among others.

The forum expressed hope that the government would soon consider these demands and take steps to improve the welfare of retired employees across the country.