The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliate central trade union, has demanded an extension of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme for 200 days for each family from 100 days now, and suggested inclusion of agriculture and allied sector work in the centrally-funded welfare scheme.
It also demanded the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and enhancing the minimum monthly pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 to Rs 5,000.
The demands were raised during the pre-Budget consultation chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.
B. Surendran, BMS All India Organising Secretary suggested that the Union Budget 2024-25 must focus on – rural development, MSMEs, Manufacturing, Exports and Infrastructure Development.
The trade union also demanded the enhancement of the honorarium of scheme workers, especially for ASHA, Aanganwadi, Midday Meal and National Health Mission (NHM) workers.
“The government must ensure provision of adequate funding for Beedi and other unorganised sector welfare boards and a minimum monthly pension of Rs 5000 and variable dearness allowance along with benefits of Ayushman Bharat for all EPS 95 pensioners,” it said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
It also urged the Union government to take steps to fill all vacancies in Centre, “which currently stand close to 20 lakh”, and also create permanent posts for sanitary and sewerage workers in municipalities and panchayats as well as regularise all contract workers in the arena working for over two decades.
The union also demanded that the eighth pay commission be constituted with efficient people appointed at the helm.
The BMS also demanded the enhancement of the income tax limit to give relief to the middle class.