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JAMMU: In a major push towards the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a joint delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) and J&K NPS Employees United Front (NPSEUF) today met Shri Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of the All India Railway Federation (AIRF) and National Convenor of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), during his visit to Jammu.
The delegation, led by Chief Patron JKTF Shri Ganesh Khajuria, extended a warm greetings to Shri Mishra and held detailed deliberations on the growing concerns of government employees governed under the New Pension Scheme (NPS). The leaders strongly emphasized that the issue of pension security has evolved into a nationwide movement, cutting across departments and states.
The delegation included senior representatives Shri Darshan Sharma, P.D. Singh, Bharat Bhushan, Parveen Kumar, Ashwani Sharma, Gulzabir Daing, Lekh Raj Parihar, S. Manpreet Singh, Pawan Kumar, and Surinder Kaith, who collectively raised the hardships faced by employees due to the uncertainty associated with NPS.
During the interaction, Shiv Gopal Mishra elaborated on the sustained nationwide agitation being spearheaded by NJCA, stating that the demand for OPS restoration is rooted in the fundamental right of employees to secure post-retirement life with dignity. He assured the delegation of full support and reiterated that coordinated efforts at the national level would continue to mount pressure on the Central Government to scrap NPS and reinstate OPS for employees appointed after January 1, 2004.
The delegation and union leaders underscored the far-reaching impact of restoring the Old Pension Scheme.OPS guarantees a defined pension, ensuring financial stability and dignity for employees after retirement, unlike NPS which is market-linked and uncertain.Employees under NPS often face stress over post-retirement security. Restoration of OPS would alleviate this anxiety, leading to improved mental well-being and job satisfaction.
A secure workforce is more motivated and productive. Leaders argued that ensuring social security would positively impact governance and service delivery.Unlike OPS, NPS is dependent on market performance, exposing employeesâ retirement savings to risks. OPS eliminates such uncertainties.Pensioners play a crucial role in sustaining local economies, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. A fixed pension under OPS ensures consistent spending power, indirectly boosting economic activity.
The current dual systemâOPS for pre-2004 employees and NPS for those appointed laterâhas created disparities. Restoration of OPS would bring parity and fairness across generations of employees.Ganesh Khajuria, while thanking Shri Mishra for his support, reiterated that the movement is not merely a financial demand but a larger struggle for justice, equality, and employee welfare. He stressed that JKTF and NPSEUF, in coordination with national organizations, will continue to intensify their agitation through democratic means until the demand is fulfilled.
The meeting concluded with a firm resolve to strengthen unity among employee unions and escalate the campaign at both regional and national levels, signaling that the demand for OPS restoration is set to remain a central issue in the coming months.
