Staff plan stir against new pension scheme

Our Correspondent
UNA, October 21

District level representatives of government employees, opposing the new pension scheme, which was for the employees recruited into government jobs after 31 December 2003, today held a meeting at Una to finalise the plan to organize a one-day hunger strike in front of the Hamirpur residence of Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur.

In a communiqué released after the meeting, state chief convenor Kuldip Chandel and district president Kamal Chaudhary of the New Pension Scheme Association said the mass hunger strike would be organized on October 28 in front of the residence of all the 543 elected Lok Sabha MPs on a call given by their national association. 

The old pension scheme was discontinued by the Union government for employees joining service on and after January 1, 2004 and consequently, the rule has also been applicable to the state government employees.

According to the press release, the new pension scheme had several drawbacks. While there was no employee contribution under the old scheme, a 10 per cent deduction of the monthly basic pay and DA was required under the new scheme. The amount of pension in the new scheme was market driven since 40 per cent of the accrued provident fund during retirement is to be deposited in the share market.

Besides, the employee leaders said the interest on provident fund was taxable in the new scheme and there was no provision of medical allowance for retired employees or family members. Moreover, they said under the old scheme, Pay Commission benefits were applicable, while this benefit had been withdrawn in the new scheme. They vowed to intensify their stir till the government did not implement the old pension scheme.

At the meeting, it was resolved to constitute a separate cell for women employees in the association since women would also be participating in the hunger strike. Neena Thakur was unanimously elected as president, Rajni Joshi and Gargi Sharma as vice presidents, while Neeru Sharma as elected as general secretary of the district level women wing.