The Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS), representing retired railway employees, has submitted a comprehensive list of demands to the 8th Pay Commission to address growing economic imbalances and pension disparity. Highlighting that persistent inflation has severely eroded the purchasing power of seniors, the body has strongly urged the government to implement a “One Rank, One Pension” (OROP) style principle for civilian retirees. Under this proposal, pensioners who retired with the same rank and length of service would receive equivalent pension amounts, effectively eliminating the widening financial gap between older and newer retirees. Furthermore, the association has requested that any future basic salary revisions for active employees automatically trigger a corresponding revision in pensions.
Beyond pension parity, the RSCWS has recommended structural changes to the overall pay frame, advocating for a minimum basic pay based on inflation levels as of January 1, 2026. The body has requested that the annual increment rate be elevated from the existing 3 percent to 5 percent to ensure long-term financial security. Additional proposals include reviewing and periodically lifting the statutory ceiling on gratuity and leave encashment in line with the rising cost of living, alongside compressing the pension commutation restoration period from 15 years down to 10–12 years. On the healthcare and welfare front, the association is pushing for a broader transition toward cashless treatments, a centralized empanelment of private hospitals under the Health Ministry, and higher insurance coverage under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEGIS). Ultimately, the body emphasizes that these adjustments are vital to providing predictable, dignified, and adequate post-retirement benefits to those who served the nation’s transit lifeline.
