New Delhi: The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the labour wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), organised a protest at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. They were demanding the removal of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Many employees from railways, defense, postal services, central government offices, and local bodies joined the protest in response to a call from the Government Employees National Confederation (GENC), the industrial unit within BMS.
The demands of the protesters were:
(i) The restoration of a guaranteed pension amounting to a minimum of 50 per cent of the last basic pay.
(ii) Provision of dearness relief for price neutralization
(iii) A commitment to revising pensions in line with subsequent Central Pay Commissions’ (CPC) recommendations.
The protesters, according to a union leader, later called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and handed over a memorandum on the issue. Earlier this year, the finance ministry had set up a committee under the finance secretary to review the NPS and come up with a solution to the issue of pensions. The committee has yet to submit its findings.
The demonstration was presided over by Vipan Kumar Dogra, vice president of GENC. Hiranmay Pandya, all-India president of BMS, Ravindra Himte, general secretary of BMS were also present.
Speaking to the crowd, the speakers shared their concerns about the defined contributory pension scheme known as NPS. The central government had stopped the Old Pension Scheme in 2004 and introduced NPS. This change, which began with an ordinance on December 22, 2003, became official with the passing of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill in September 2013. Since the beginning, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and its associated groups have been against NPS, calling it an uncertain, market-dependent contributory pension system.
The Old Pension Scheme provided a guaranteed pension without requiring employees to contribute money. It ensured that 50% of the last salary would become the pension after retirement. The scheme also adjusted the pension based on the price index, leading to a dearness allowance being received twice a year in January and July. Government employees, who believe they are being denied their rightful pension under the name of social security, are now demanding the Government of India to get rid of the New Pension Scheme and bring back the Old Pension Scheme.
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