On Monday, Assam government employees who are covered by the new pension scheme held a nationwide protest, putting pressure on Dispur to follow the lead of non-BJP states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab and return to the “secured and employee-friendly” old pension policy.
The demonstration was organised by the All Assam Government. Teachers, officials, employees, police officers, doctors, and nurses are among the 2.38 lakh members of the NPS Employees’ Association.
The functioning of government offices, schools, colleges, and universities was disrupted, but those concerned in emergency services such as healthcare and policing gave support by wearing black badges, according to the association’s president, Achyutananda Hazarika.
The protest was sparked by the meagre pension that retired employees receive under the NPS, which applies to individuals hired after February 1, 2005. The NPS was implemented in 2009.
So far, approximately 7,500 employees have retired, and their monthly salaries range from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,800, making their future and survival questionable, according to the union. However, under the earlier pension programme, an employee received at least Rs 12,000 per month and those with 25 years of service received 50% of basic plus various benefits.
“Therefore, all officers, employees, teachers, police personnel of the state under the NPS demonstrated and demanded before the government in one voice to restore the old pension system for all of them. This is the beginning of a big agitation programme. Next month we are planning a padayatra in Guwahati with at least 50,000 employees. The government should take our protest seriously in the greater interest of the employees and the state,” Hazarika stated.
He stated that the Assam government, like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Punjab, should return to the previous system.
According to Hazarika, the government has contributed over Rs 9,900 crore to the NPS since 2009. “We feel the government should instead revert to the old system so that employees could get an assured amount every month. If the government reverts to the old policy, not only will it help the employees live in peace but also help the state’s economy,” according to Hazarika.
He referenced the NPS’s 7,500 retired personnel as examples. “They are hardly contributing to the local economy. Their number will only grow if the NPS is not rolled back, there will be no money to spend and as a result the local economy will suffer impeding the state’s overall growth,” Hazarika stated.