Two lakh government employees stage protest against National Pension System

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Around two lakh State government officers, police personnel, employees observed a day-long non-cooperation agitation on Tuesday against the National Pension System (NPS) and demanded to restore the Old Pension System (OPS).

President of All Assam Government NPS Employees' Association (AAGNPSEA) Achyutananda Hazarika and secretary Apurba Sarma underlined that the employees are a major part of the government machinery.

"Each and every work of the government has to be executed by the employees only. But by implementing the NPS, their future after retirement has become outmost uncertain and bleak and all the government employees therefore demands to re-instate the Assam Services Pension Rules 1969 for all," said Hazarika.

The president and secretary of the Association underlined that a mass convention was held on January 31 in Guwahati where prominent economists, critics, social activists, intellectuals, journalists, leaders of nation and State employees' associations were present. The mass convention expressed its concern on the 'negative impact' of the NPS in the State economy and social structure. They requested the government to reconsider its implementation and take necessary action towards restoration of OPS for greater interest of the public.

"Unfortunately, the government is not yet keen to show their response on this matter. The matter was even raised in the Winter Session of the State Assembly by MLA Mamun Imdadul Hoque Choudhury, and the House has also taken note of the seriousness of the issue," said Hazarika.

The president and secretary further demanded the government to issue necessary notification for the provision of minimum Rs 10 lakh retirement gratuity (even if any government servant works only for 10 days only before retirement) as announced by the Finance Minister of Assam. The Association has decided to embark upon a series of agitation programme in the near future for the greater interest of the State employees and the people of Assam as a whole, said Sarma.

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