Sunday, 14 May 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The employee organisations demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) have expressed happiness at the victory of the Congress party in the Karnataka Assembly elections. The employees believe that OPS was a major factor in the Karnataka elections and the victory of the Congress which supports restoration of OPS has given a boost to the countrywide campaign for old pension.
The president of Uttarakhand chapter of National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS) Jeetmani Paniyuli said that the #VoteforOPS campaign has succeeded in Karnataka. He said that the unity of employees and teachers on the issue of OPS proved to be the turning point of Karnataka elections. He said that the issue of OPS would influence the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 in a big way.
The state general secretary of National Old Pension Restoration United Front , Sitaram Pokhariyal told The Pioneer that the employees have shown their strength in the Karnataka elections. He said that the BJP would have to face consequences in the Lok Sabha elections if it continues to ignore the justified demand of OPS of employees.
The New Pension Scheme (NPS) was started in the year 2004 to reduce the burden of pension on the State exchequer. The employees are now finding the NPS non lucrative and are demanding the restoration of OPS in which the retiring employee gets 50 per cent of his last drawn salary as pension. Under the pressure of the employee associations, the State governments of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have dismantled the NPS and restored the OPS for their employees. The victory of Congress in Karnataka has now given hope to the employees that the OPS would be restored by other States as well.
