Kohima, 16 February (MTNews): Joining the national strike organized by the All India State Government Employees Federation, the Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees Forum (NNPSGSEF) today held a peaceful dharna, demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and scrapping of the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
Six units of the forum from Kohima, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, and Kiphire joined in the dharna at the New Secretariat in Kohima. A representation for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme was submitted to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland after the dharna.
Putting forth the grievances of over 32 thousand employees covered under NPS, the representation reiterated that the State Government employees appointed after 1st January 2010 involuntarily had to opt for NPS, as ordered by the State Government.
The Forum said this has led to harming the interests of the employees by depriving them of pension after retirement. They also expressed concern about the irregularities of the NPS, adding that NPS is a corporate beneficiary and has no employee future-secured system. It is purely a private company and enjoys the state government contribution of 50 percent per month and employee contribution of 50 per cent, it added.
The Forum asked the government to consider their request for reversion to the old Pension scheme.
Meanwhile, the Forum’s President, Moanungsang, said that after the installation of the units in all districts, the forum will be organizing a peaceful mass rally across the districts soon.
Moanungsang said if no positive response is received, the forum would initiate a pen-down strike, wearing black badges to put forward their grievances.