O Assam
On Monday, a large number of government employees in Assam decided to protest more strongly. They want the old pension scheme (OPS) back. The group leading this protest is the All Assam Government NPS Employees Association (AAGNPSEA). They are supported by opposition leaders and important people in the state who believe that getting a good pension is a basic right for workers.
In a meeting organized by AAGNPSEA, along with other workers' groups, they agreed to stop using the National Pension System (NPS). They want everyone working for the state, including teachers, to get their pensions through the OPS. They also want to get rid of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act (PFRDA) of 2013. They think this law makes it hard to bring back the OPS.
The meeting focused on protecting worker's rights. Professor Akhil Ranjan Dutta from Gauhati University talked about the need to think about the working class when making economic and social decisions.
Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan said 15 opposition parties, including Congress, support bringing back the OPS. He wants this protest to spread all over India because it affects all workers. CPI(M) leader Isfaqur Rahman also criticized the NPS and supported OPS.
AAGNPSEA president Achyutananda Hazarika pointed out that retirees under NPS get very small pensions, only Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 a month. Out of five lakh government employees in Assam, around 3.5 lakh are under NPS. The association is determined to fight harder until the state and central governments respond to their demands. This issue is now a big topic in India, discussing workers' rights and pension systems.
