Assam Govt employees agitation escalates for restoration of Old Pension Scheme

In a significant development on Monday, a large contingent of government employees in Assam expressed their unwavering determination to escalate protests, advocating for the reinstatement of the old pension scheme (OPS). Spearheaded by the All Assam Government NPS Employees Association (AAGNPSEA), the movement garnered support from opposition leaders and influential figures in the state who argue that adequate pension is a fundamental right for workers.

During a meeting organized by AAGNPSEA and supported by the Joint Coordination Committee for OPS Assam and the Joint Forum for Restoration of OPS Assam, leaders and representatives of various workers' bodies resolved to annul the National Pension System (NPS). Their primary demand is to ensure that all workers, employees, and teachers under the state government receive pensions through the OPS. The gathering also called for the immediate repeal of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act (PFRDA) Act of 2013, seen as a hindrance to the restoration of OPS.

The resolutions adopted at the meeting underscore a collective insistence on safeguarding workers' rights. Protesters expressed concerns about economic and social decisions being concentrated in the hands of the wealthiest 1% of the population. Renowned author and Gauhati University professor, Akhil Ranjan Dutta, emphasized the need to ensure the socio-economic discourse considers the interests of the working class.

Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan highlighted the support of a conglomerate of 15 opposition political parties for the OPS restoration demand, urging the movement to extend nationwide. CPI(M) leader Isfaqur Rahman, part of the conglomerate, condemned those advocating for NPS and pledged his party's support for OPS restoration.

AAGNPSEA president Achyutananda Hazarika highlighted that most retirees under the NPS receive meager pensions, ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 a month. With approximately five lakh government employees in Assam, around 3.5 lakh are currently under the NPS. The association declared its commitment to intensify the struggle unless positive steps are taken by the state and central governments in response to their demands. The issue has escalated beyond a regional concern, resonating with the broader discourse on workers' rights and pension systems in the country.