CANSSEA stages protest, submits demands to Nagaland government

KOHIMA — The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees Association (CANSSEA) on Tuesday staged a dharna in Kohima in compliance with the call of the All India State Government Employees Federation.

The protest was held at the CANSSEA office, where members held placards demanding restoration of the old pension system (OPS), implementation of the 8th Pay Commission, induction of IAS officers through NPSC, and repeal of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Act.

Tuesday’s protest was a continuation of their earlier strike held on July 9, 2025, as directed by the central federation. Members said the agitation may continue until their demands are met.

Out of 11 demands raised by the central federation, CANSSEA has chosen five as pertinent to Nagaland and submitted a representation to the state chief secretary.

Addressing the media during the protest, CANSSEA president Zubemo Lotha Tsanglao said the association has added the issue of IAS induction, requesting the government to include a criterion where officers recruited through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) are also inducted.

Also read: Nagaland constitutes Job Reservation Commission

He said the association hopes for a positive outcome, stressing that meritocracy is central to the NPSC and NSSB, and urged the government to stand by its assurances.

On OPS, Tsanglao noted that some states with stronger resources have reverted to the old system, but for the Northeast and others, central government intervention would be necessary. He said this was why CANSSEA and other associations were supporting the wider movement to press the union government to repeal the PFRDA Act and roll back to NPS.

President of the NPS Forum, Avizo Nienu, said that scrapping NPS and restoring OPS was a key agenda, as it concerned the security of lakhs of employees. He alleged that the government has remained silent on repeated representations and warned that NPS would “drag lakhs of people into the market,” calling it a potential challenge for Nagaland.

He appealed to the government to respond to their demands and take steps to restore OPS.

Read more: RMSA 2016 teachers’ indefinite protest enters 11th day in Kohima

JOIN US ON WHATSAPP