ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: BJP in a fix as govt employees want restoration of Old Pension Scheme

Though the Centre has brought a unified pension scheme (UPS) for government employees as a replacement of new pension scheme (NPS) to counter the anti-NPS campaign in the state, a most employees seem to be dissatisfied and unhappy with the UPS in its present form putting the ruling BJP into trouble in the Assembly elections across the state.

They are still in favour of restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and raising the demand before all candidates in the fray and making the issue crucial in the Assembly elections. Interestingly, the candidates other than the BJP are flagging the OPS issue prominently in their poll meetings to woo the employees.

“The employees have out rightly rejected the UPS following many unfavourable provisions incorporated in it. The scheme ensures merely Rs 10,000 monthly pension in case the employees’ service period is less than 25 years. This is a nominal amount keeping in view the rising inflation. It seems the BJP government’s intention is not good regarding the pension issue otherwise it could have restored the OPS or promised to do so like the Congress party and won the hearts of the employees,” said Kamlesh, a teacher in Mahendragarh.

Mahesh, another employee in Jhajjar, said the UPS was being glorified as a much better scheme than the OPS. “If it is reality, then why the OPS is not being restored for which the government employees have been on the warpath in the state for the past several years. Since the BJP has realised that the UPS has failed to satisfy the employees, hence its candidates are not seeking the votes from the government employees in the name of UPS,” he added.

Vijendra Dhariwal, president, OPS Bahali Sangharsh Samiti, said under the UPS, neither the medical facility nor the benefit of new pay commission would be given to the employees while the greatest need for medical facility arises in old age.

“The UPS guarantees 50 per cent of the average basic pay of the past 12 months preceding the date of retirement as the guaranteed pension for the employee if he/she retires after the service of 25 years. Since the maximum age for government jobs is 42 years for general, 45 years for BCs and 47 years for SCs, then how will a candidate who gets a job near the maximum age limit will be able to get pension half of his/her basic pay when he/she will retire at 58,” he pointed out.

Refuting the pleas, Shamsher Kharak, state BJP media co-incharge, said the UPS had been prepared on the suggestions presented by the government employees. “Maximum benefit has been ensured for the employees in it. Merely, a section of the employees is decrying it while the reality is that the UPS has been successful to please the employees,” he added.

Sushma from Kosli (Rewari) said pension was introduced to financially secure the future of the employees in old age, but the employees’ future had been at the mercy of God after the withdrawal of the OPS. “The employees have been demanding the restoration of the OPS but no one has paid any heed to it. The employees will show their resentment in the Assembly polls by voting against the government,” she claimed.

No medical facility under UPS

Under the UPS, neither the medical facility nor the benefit of new pay commission will be given to the employees while the greatest need for medical facility arises in old age. — Vijendra Dhariwal, president, OPS Bahali Sangharsh Samiti