People employed under the government and retirees are again demanding from the government to reconsider implementing the prior pension system. About 4.5 lakh employees who had served in various state corporations, boards, and undertakings in Madhya Pradesh are planning to stage a protest during the winter session of the assembly scheduled beginning December 16.
Growing Dissatisfaction Among the Staff
Pensioners and civil servants, in particular, have been complaining about the existing pension system. A large number of employees factor the government for attention because they cannot fend for themselves after retirement through the paltry pension amount provided under the NPS. As per them, ₹20000 to ₹25000 per month is not enough required to meet the basic needs of a person let alone escalating inflation.
Preparations for Demonstrations and Campaigns
On a further attempt, pensioners and employee organizations are likely to meet with local legislators to make them aware of this situation and ask them to rouse the question of reviving the old pension scheme in the assembly. They think that after serving the government for many years, they ought to be rewarded with cash once they reach their retirement ages.
Further, on 15th December a national convention will be organized in Delhi to decide the future course of actions regarding protests. This event shall therefore help call employees and pensioners across the nation to fully plot on how these demands shall be pressed.
Old Pension Scheme vs. New Pension Scheme
Under the previous pension scheme, pensioners received a stipend that was for their lifetime so there was nothing to worry about. But the NPS which has replaced it is a market related one and does not ensure a fixed pension and many employees are apprehensive about varying and low returns.
Several times employees have complained this to the government but they have never been considered. The government insists that the NPS is the best solution on the horizon. Even the current employees are joining the pressure for the old pension scheme and the coming assembly session will reveal the fate of pension demands.
