Hyderabad, Jan. 31 -- The retired pensioners of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd have urged the Centre to restructure the present Coal Mines Pension Scheme (CMPS-1998) with a better scheme in line with the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

In a letter addressed to Union minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy on Thursday, January 30, PK Singh Rathor, convenor of the All-India Coal Pensioners' Association (AICPA) has requested the union minister to immediately review and enhance the pension linked with Dearness Allowance (DA).

If needed, the organisation suggested the Centre impose a compulsory welfare cess on account of pension fund @ 1% on the selling price of coal, which could be used to enhance the pensions and other welfare measures ...