Revise pension for 5.6 lakh+ retired employees of the Indian Coal Mining Industry

Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji

Subj: Paltry Pension to old retirees and demand of Upward Revision of pension for retired employees of Indian Coal Mining Industry

Respected Sir,

On behalf of Indian Coal Industry Retired Employees (mostly of Coal India Limited and Singareni Collieries Company Limited) numbering about 5.6 lakhs, the following long pending issue is submitted for your urgent intervention.

Pension of about 5.6 lakh coal industry retired employees (executives and non-executives) under Coal Mines Pension Scheme 1998 (CMPS-1998) has never been revised since its inception, 24 years ago. As a result, the pensioners get a pension, fixed at the time of retirement, for any number of years they live.

CMPS-1998 is a contributory pension scheme, under the provisions of which there should be review of the Fund by the Board of Trustees (BOT) every three years based on the report of Actuary appointed for valuation of the fund and improve the status of Pension Fund.

Unfortunately the BOT and the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO) under the administrative control of Ministry of Coal have failed to appoint actuary every 3 years as per the provisions of the scheme and also failed to take any decision on the recommendations of actuaries when the fund was valuated few times.

The omissions and commissions of the BOT/CMPFO responsible for the fund management were highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Report no.12 of 2017), 30th Standing committee on coal and steel and Public Accounts Committee (March 2021) from time to time.

While periodic pension revisions galore across the country for pensioners of central government, state governments, banks and other establishments, the pension of retired coal mining industry employees who gave their blood, sweat, toil and tears in the most hazardous profession, is not getting enhanced in spite of several pay revisions of coal industry employees and ever increasing cost of living.

It is a pity that many pensioners are getting a meagre pension of Rs. 50/- to 125/- per month which is hopelessly meagre to give a dignified survival. Even a pension of Rs. Rs. 7000.00 / month to retired employee is inadequate. As a result, more than 70,000 pensioners have died in the period between the years 2015 to 2021 in utter pecuniary conditions.

We earnestly appeal to the Prime Minister of India to prevail over Ministry of Coal to take urgent steps for upward revision of pension and periodic revision thereafter linking to cost of living index or the pay revisions of coal industry employees, so that, pensioners of coal industry can live with dignity and honour in their sunset years as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

Sir, you had been very much concerned and resolved the long pending issue of 'One Rank One Pension' of armed forces, a highly deserving decision to help them live with dignity and honour in their sunset years. We the coal miners working in no less hazardous profession of coal mining, have got a raw deal from the Board of Trustees of Coal Mines Provident Fund under the ministry of coal because of their indecision, unprofessional fund management and lack of sincere efforts.

We earnestly appeal to you to kindly give necessary orders so that Indian coal mines pensioners get SAME GRADE SAME PENSION similar to OROP or so from a mutually agreed cut-off date in consultation with the Association of Retirees of Coal Industry. 

We deserve a life with dignity and honour in our sunset years.

Image credits: The New Indian Express