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GuwahatiThousands of Assam government employees gathered here on Tuesday in a protest meeting, demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and warned the administration to intensify the stimulus if their demand is not met within this month.
While the employees of different districts have reached the city, this meeting organized by the NPS union of the government of Assam was also joined by the leaders and members of the unions from other regions of the country.
Our request is simple. We want OPS back. It was the only proposal approved in today’s protest meeting and we forwarded the demand to the chief minister, AAGNPSEA President Achyutananda Hazarika told PTI.
Assam has about five lakh government employees, of which around 2.4 lakh are under the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
We have been assured that the government will consider our request. 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 create a law and order situation as we are civil servants. Therefore, we have decided to comply with the authorities’ instructions this time. But if our demand is not fulfilled, we will have to hold more protests, he said.
AAGNPSEA president 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 of 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 the retired employees under NPS get a nominal amount every month as pension, which is not possible for maintenance.
Its stimulus programs proposed in June and July have been postponed due to an invitation for discussion by the Assam finance minister. With no concrete action’ following the discussion, the union started the protest meeting.
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