Not reducing employees' pension by 30%, media reports fake: Govt

New Delhi: As the country is staring at a financial emergency because of the 21-day national lockdown, rumours were spread that the government would reduce the pensions of its employees by 30 per cent and would terminate it altogether for those above the age of 80. The Press Information Bureau has clarified that this is fake news. “There is no such move in the government and such rumours are baseless,” the PIB tweeted.

Media reports & rumours circulating on social media claiming that the Govt may reduce employees' pension by 30% & terminate it for those above the age of 80, in the context of #COVIDー19, is FAKE.#PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake. Government is doing no such thing! pic.twitter.com/y4c0RnUDvW

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 9, 2020

The rumour was triggered after the Union Cabinet promulgated an ordinance to reduce the salaries, allowances and pensions of MPs by 30 per cent for a year. the Cabinet has also approved the temporary suspension of the MPLAD funding during 2020-21 and 2021-22. The President, Vice President and the governors of states have also voluntarily decided to take a pay cut as a social responsibility. Several states have also announced similar pay cut measures.