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Thousands of Assam government employees staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), threatening the administration to intensify the agitation if their demand is not met within this month.
Employees from various districts attended the meeting led by the Assam Government NPS Employees Association (AAGNPSEA). Besides, leaders and members of labor unions from other states also joined them as a sign of unity.
According to the President of AAGNPSEA – Achyutananda Hazarika, “Our demand is simple. We want the return of OPS. It was the only proposal that was approved in today’s protest meeting, and we submitted the demand to the Prime Minister.
Assam has about five lakh government employees, and 2.4 lakh citizens are under the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
“We have been assured that the government will consider our offer. “But if we don’t get any positive response by November 30, we will have to intensify our agitation,” he added.
Hazarika said that the protestors gathered at the veterinary college ground in Khanapara area of the city for about five kilometers on their way to Dispur town, which is the power center, but the authorities did not allow it.
“We did not want to bring law and order as we are government employees. Therefore, we have decided to comply with the authorities’ instructions this time. “But if our demand remains unfulfilled, we will have to stage a strong protest,” he said.
The president of AAGNPSEA said that leaders of National OPS Restoration United Forum, and trade unions of Telangana, Jammu, and Kashmir, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh also participated in the protest.
Representatives from various trade unions in the railways, banks, and postal departments were also present, he claimed.
Lakhs of Assam government employees observed ‘Karma Birati’ (work stoppage) at their workplaces on August 22, also under the AAGNPSEA, demanding cancellation of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoration of the old one.
The organization claimed that retired employees under NPS get nominal amount every month as pension, which is impossible.
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