People's Democracy

‘Scrap PFRDA Bill’

All India Demands Day Observed On July 19

AT the call of All India State Government Employees’ Federation, ‘All India Demands Day’ was observed throughout the country on July 19, 2007 by holding of rallies, dharnas and demonstrations on the following demands:

1. Scrap ‘Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill’ pending in parliament and cancel notification for appointment of Pension Fund Managers and reversely existing Pension System should be introduced for new recruits also.

2. Granting Right to Strike to the employees, if necessary, by framing necessary legislation.

3. Merger of 50 per cent DA in full with basic pay with all consequent benefits and release of up-to-date instalments of DA.

4. Stop privatising and downsizing of government sector, other central and state PSUs also and restructuring of state undertakings.

5. Fill up of vacant posts in all government departments, educational institutions and state undertakings.

6. 6. Stop contractual appointments and recruit employees, workers and teachers on regular basis and regularise all daily rate, casual, contingent or contract employees immediately and start recruitment on regular basis.

7. Increase GPF, EPF and Small Savings Interest rates.

8. Repeal all anti-worker measures and full trade union rights to be guaranteed.
   9. Immediate measures to be taken to bring down abnormally rising of prices of all essential commodities and strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS).

9. Provide jobs to the jobless and social security measures for unorganised workers.

Thousands of employees participated in the programme and strongly criticised the New Pension Scheme and demanded its immediate scrapping.

A memorandum containing the 10-point charter of demands was adopted in the meeting and sent to prime minister of India, union finance minister and all chief ministers. (INN)