Just ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana, J-K, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi, PM Modi announced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) with slight tweaks in NPS for the government staff, overlooking their long pending demand for OPS restoration, writes Mudit Mathur
Just ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) with slight improvements in the New Pension Scheme (NPS) for the central government and Railway employees from the next financial year, but did not accept their long pending demand to restore non-contributory Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The Maharashtra government has adopted it while other BJP-led state governments are likely to adopt it soon.
OPS had become a major poll issue in the state elections and BJP faced many electoral reversals on this count. The tremors were also seen in the huge parliamentary losses. The Congress-led state governments have already restored OPS as a part of their poll promises. The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is contributory; however, the old one was non-contributory. Many federations have outrightly rejected UPS reiterating their demand for OPS while announcing their decision to intensify the agitation in a big way.
Prime Minister Modi, while praising the UPS, stated in a post on ‘X’ sharing photographs of meetings with employee leaders, “We are proud of the hard work of all government employees who contribute significantly to national progress. The Unified Pension Scheme ensures dignity and financial security for government employees, aligning with our commitment to their well-being and a secure future.” “Met a delegation of staff from the Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government employees. They expressed joy over the Cabinet’s decision regarding the Unified Pension Scheme.”
The Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), the apex body representing Central government employees, lauded the newly launched UPS by the Modi government but many other federations of employees, including the All-India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), have refused to accept the UPS as the second Contributory Pension Scheme and declared to continue struggle till achieving Non-Contributory Pension Scheme –– OPS.
Shiv Gopal Mishra, secretary of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), a joint forum of government employees’ organisations, said they were invited by the prime minister for the meeting. He added that the Prime Minister acknowledged their concerns after days of protest. “This was for the first time that JCM was invited by the PM. It was a very good meeting. It was a very proud moment for 32 lakh government employees,” an overwhelmed Mishra told Tehelka.
