Pension Parishad demands budget should address glaring inadequacies in social security pensions

By A Representative

As the Union Budget 2025-2026 approaches, the Pension Parishad has issued a strong appeal to address the glaring inadequacies in social security pensions allocated for the elderly, single women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Despite over 10.4 crore senior citizens in India, the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) continues to be grossly underfunded, with a stagnant allocation of ₹9,500 crores—a figure unchanged for over a decade.

Currently, pension amounts remain shockingly low: ₹200 per month for individuals aged 60–79, and ₹500 for those above 79 years, unchanged since 2007. Accounting for inflation, the real value of ₹200 in 2007 has plummeted to ₹7 per day in 2023, leaving pensioners unable to meet even basic needs. The Pension Parishad highlighted that while the country’s total budget grew nearly 30 times from 2007–08 to 2023–24, allocations for pensions have remained static, reflecting a deep disregard for economic vulnerabilities.

The administrative hurdles faced by beneficiaries exacerbate the situation. Pensioners frequently encounter months-long delays in payments, Aadhaar-linked exclusions, and challenges related to uploading disability certificates on the UDID Portal. For instance, Rajasthan has faced a complete halt in new disability pension applications since March 2024, leaving thousands stranded without their rightful benefits.

The Pension Parishad emphasized India’s poor standing in global comparisons. Neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka provide significantly higher social security pensions despite having smaller GDPs. Meanwhile, Indian pensioners struggle with amounts that fail to secure dignity or survival.

Key Demands

The press release outlined specific demands ahead of the Budget 2025-2026:

1. Universal and Non-Contributory Pensions: A minimum pension of ₹4,000 per month, indexed to inflation, split equally between the Centre and state governments.

2. Inflation-Indexed Pensions: Regular revisions of pension amounts to maintain purchasing power.

3. Universal Coverage: Expansion of pension benefits to all households under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), removing the restrictive BPL criteria.

4. Abolition of Aadhaar Mandate: Ensuring Aadhaar is not a barrier to accessing entitlements under the NSAP.

Call for Urgent Action

The Pension Parishad warned that continued neglect of social security pensions would deepen inequality and violate the basic rights of vulnerable groups. As the nation strives for a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India), the government must reflect its commitment to justice and equity in this year’s budget. Anything less, the Parishad stated, would not only be inadequate but inhumane.

The ball is now in the government’s court to prove whether it values the dignity and survival of its elderly and vulnerable citizens or chooses to turn a blind eye to their plight.

Comments

Covid-19: The joker in the pack – is it diverting attention from real public health issues?

By Dr Amitav Banerjee MD As hyped by the media, Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country, and the Union Health Ministry has asked several states and union territories, including Delhi, to put preventive measures in place. As of 28 May 2025, India recorded 1,621 active cases, with Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka accounting for over 90 percent of total active infections.

Pandemic failures: How conflicts of interest and politics undermined science and accountability

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* The USA was the bellwether of the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Anthony Fauci, who headed the USA’s Covid-19 task force, became a medical dictator whom the world followed blindly. He even went to the extent of saying that “he is the science,” and attacks on him were attacks on science. He was instrumental in recommending most of the Covid-19 protocols, such as masking, social distancing, lockdowns, and mass vaccinations—including for those who had recovered from natural infections and children. Most of these measures had no scientific evidence and caused immense collateral harm without any benefit. He had to admit during Senate hearings in the USA that there was no evidence for measures like social distancing , and that they just made them up!

How Madhya Pradesh's reservoir contracting system weighs heavily against fisherfolk

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Water sources such as ponds, rivers, and reservoirs are essential parts of our water wealth. These water bodies host a variety of fish species that ensure food security for millio and provide a livelihood for fishing communities. To secure the rights of local fishers over water and its resources, governmental support is essential. Today, however, human-made disruptions outweigh natural ones, adversely affecting communities dependent on water resources.

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Savitribai Phule: The mother of modern education and pioneer of Indian feminism

By Dr Kapilendra Das* In the pantheon of India’s social reformers, Savitribai Phule stands tall as a beacon of education, empowerment and resistance. Often called the “Mother of Modern Education in India,” Savitribai was not only the country’s first female teacher but also a fearless feminist and a relentless social reformer who dared to question the oppressive norms of her time. Her life’s mission was clear: to educate the uneducated, uplift the downtrodden, and liberate women from the shackles of patriarchy and caste.

Ex-civil servants slam charges against Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad, calls arrest 'outrageous and absurd'

By A Representative In a strong and unequivocal statement, the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), comprising 79 retired civil servants , has condemned the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University under India’s new criminal code for his social media commentary on Operation Sindoor.

Old bias, new excuses: How western media misrepresents India’s anti-terror strikes

By Gajanan Khergamker The recent Indian military strikes on Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, have sparked a storm of international media coverage. Several prominent outlets have portrayed India as the aggressor in the escalating conflict, raising concerns over biased reporting. This commentary critiques coverage by foreign media outlets such as The New York Times , Reuters, BBC, and CNN, which have often been accused of framing India’s actions as escalatory while downplaying or omitting critical context regarding Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. By examining historical patterns and current geopolitical dynamics, this analysis highlights the recurring selective framing, omission of evidence, and a tendency to favor narratives aligned with Western geopolitical interests over factual nuance.

Controversy over last rites of Maoist leader Keshava Rao and others in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor* The last rites of Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju—General Secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist)—and seven other Maoist cadres killed in an encounter on May 21 were conducted by police in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on May 26. This decision has sparked controversy, with family members and human rights advocates alleging denial of due rights to claim and perform the final rites of their relatives.

Colaba jetty ruling: A judicial nod to support Mumbai's balanced urban growth

By Gajanan Khergamker* The Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the construction of the Colaba passenger jetty and terminal near the Gateway of India is a decision firmly anchored in legal precedent, pragmatic reasoning, and a nuanced balance of competing interests.

Search This Blog