Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday requested the Centre to take steps for revision of minimum pension of EPF pensioners. In a letter to Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, the Chief Minister requested him to resolve the pension issue which would benefit the pensioners throughout the country. AHe drew the attention of the Minister to the plight of around 1.62 lakh EPF pensioners all across my state, who with a paltry monthly pension after their retirement are facing much hardships in their advanced age. Patnaik said time and again these EPS-95 Pensioners' Associations are putting forth their grievances for revision of minimum pension by the union government and giving their memorandum also at the state level for redressing their cause. "In this connection, they are also citing a recommendation by the Petition Committee under the Chairmanship of Bhagat Singh Koshyari, MP, Rajya Sabha made during 2013 for enhancement of the monthly pension of EPS-95 pensioners, which they understand to be pending at the Government of India level for consideration," the Chief Minister mentioned. He said the grievance of these pensioners deserve sympathetic consideration as they had contributed to the nation-building at their prime age. "And now they should be protected by the state with reasonable financial and social security. This can be ensured by re-casting their pension structure for which they have been pursuing at every level," he added. /IANS