The protest for the OPS revival was held on 17th November 2024 for which a big rally and a meeting was conducted in Jantar Mantar Delhi. Many people from federal agencies from across the country attend the event. Employees from the central, state and union territoriesand autonomous departments took part in the survey. Employees of the All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) who claims that it has more than five lakh employees also had a very active role in this change.
The new pension scheme, the new pension scheme does not in anyway favour the government employees. They consider that it negatively impacts their future economic position after they are through with duty. That in their view, presupposes stability, which is missing in the new scheme and which causes them concern.
Why Employees Prefer OPS
Employees also stated their believe that under the Old Pension Scheme they would have good income after retirement. In contrast they think that what is called New Pension Scheme makes conditions unpredictable and is not as safe as before. They also argued that the system is unfair saying that politiciansserve as ministers or legislators for once get lifetime pensions but Lifelong workers all their lives have no OPS benefits.
Employees have continued to call for scrapping of the 10% salary deduction under NPS and the return of OPS. They perceive OPS not only as savings for retirement but as help for the generations to come.
Requests to the Government
Speakers at the rally were more than 40 employee leaders from different part of India who requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get OPS restored. They urged the government to do this in Parliament pointing out that the return of OPS would make sure that government employees are financially secure and foster their confidence in the government. Political leaders said it will intensify in the coming days if the government does not intervene and support it.
Government employees still look forward to positive action in regard to their cases because they see the need for the restoration of the OPS as important to their welfare and the building of confidence between them and the administration.
