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KOHIMA — Nagaland government employees held a peaceful protest outside Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on Thursday, in a display of solidarity to the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF)’s National Protest Day against the existing National Pension System (NPS) and the recently-approved Unified Pension System (UPS).
In Kohima, the protest was organised by Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees Forum (NNPSGSEF) with the support of the Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees' Association (CANSSEA).
The nationwide protest was held to demand restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and to denounce the newly introduced UPS by the Centre. Aggrieved government employees across the country have called the new system a “dubious attempt to deceive” employees, labelling it a ‘modified’ version of NPS.
Advisor of CANSSEA, Dr Ilang described the UPS as a ‘Useless’ Pension System and demanded the Old Pension System be rolled back.
Read more: Nagaland: Government employees stage dharna against National Pension System
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According to him, the UPS—which is set to come into effect from April 1—might seem a little better than the NPS considering the benefits of gratuity and family pension and so on.
“However, it requires the government servant to work for at least 25 years and when he/she passes away before fulfilling those years of service, the benefits will not be given. That is why the UPS is a conspiracy.
“Under the new system, they don’t have any future because there is no pension in their career. Sixty percent of their pension is allowed for withdrawal and 40% is going to the market, because it is linked with the market system where benefits will depend on the ups and downs of the market,” he explained.
There are 40,000 and still counting NPS subscribers in Nagaland. By 2045, there will be no more OPS for state government employees and everyone will come under either NPS or UPS, he informed.
He called upon all the government servants to come together and demand the government to roll back the Old Pension System.
“When you don’t have a future, why don't you fight for it?” he challenged.
Avizo Nienu, the spokesperson of NNPSGSEF, claimed that every month, 10% of their basic salary is deducted from the account towards NPS “but the money is missing”.
According to FY 2023-24 records, there are 1028 employees whose account is still nil, he informed and urged all to demand for the Old Pension System.
After the protest, the CANSSEA and NNPSGSEF members submitted a memorandum detailing the 10-point charter of demands of the AISGEF.
10-point charter of demands:
1. Repeal PFRDA Act; scrap NPS & UPS and restore the OPS. Direct the fund managers to return the amount deposited to the state governments; bring all subscribers under EPS 95 to Defined Benefit Pension System.
2. Regularise all the contractual employees; stop contractual/outsourced/daily waged employment.
3. Fill up all the vacancies in the state government departments and PSUs on a regular basis
4. Stop privatisation/corporatisation of PSUs and downsizing of govt. departments.
5. Ensure periodical wage revision once in five years; release all the confiscated DA arrears.
6. Implement a comprehensive health insurance scheme with govt. support ensuring cashless treatment to all including pensioners and contractual employees
7. Abandon National Education Policy (NEP)
8. Repeal Art 310, 311 (2) a, b& c of the Constitution; repeal the new three criminal laws.
9. Uphold the secularism enshrined in the Constitution, fight against all types of communalism
10. Redefine the Centre-state relations; safeguard the co-operative federalism; enhance the income tax ceiling limit to INR 10 lakh.