Retired employees of Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society seek pension

SALEM: Retired employees of Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society have requested the state govt to grant them pension, like that provided to those who retire from the District Milk Producers' Cooperative Union and the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited. The dairy sector has three levels in the state: the Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society, the District Milk Producers Cooperative Union and the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited. Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society employees play vital roles, including sourcing high-quality milk and supplying it to the district unions. However, they do not receive any retirement benefits.

They have requested the govt to provide them pension at least on compassionate grounds. They have sought inclusion in the medical insurance scheme. They have also sought provision of 500 ml of free milk every day and sweets and ghee during festive times. At present, around 2,000 retired employees are waiting for their pension."The central government's EPF (employees' provident fund) scheme was initiated in September 1995 to offer pensions to retired employees of these three organizations who have served in the same capacity," Tamil Nadu Primary Milk Cooperative Society Retired Employees' Association president P Ramakrishnan told TOI.

He noted that less than 50% of the primary milk producers cooperative societies in the state have enrolled in this scheme. Furthermore, those who have registered under this initiative receive pensions that range from Rs1,000 to Rs 2,374 monthly.Ramakrishnan urged chief minister M K Stalin to establish a fund to assist the retired employees of the Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society.A Annadurai, the managing director of the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited, has indicated that there is currently no dedicated fund for providing pensions to retired employees of the Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society.

He mentioned that the special bylaws of the association do not include any provisions for pensions. "Nonetheless, it has been communicated that in the future, as employees of the association express their willingness to contribute to a pension fund, the feasibility of offering pensions based on the accumulated funds and interest will be evaluated," he said.