Pension front to hold protest on May 1

The Old Pension Protection Front (OPPF), which has been actively campaigning for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for state employees under the National Pension System (NPS), held a block committee meeting. The meeting, chaired by teacher leaders Sukhdev Dansiwal, Balkar Singh Maghania and Rajdeep Singh, was focused on preparing for a district-level protest set to take place on May 1.

The protest will be directed at the AAP government, calling for immediate implementation of the Old Pension Scheme for various department employees. According to the meeting, despite the promise of restoration, the notification for the Old Pension Scheme has been pending for the past three years. Furthermore, the GPF (General Provident Fund) accounts of NPS employees have not been opened, and yet the government has spent significant funds on misleading advertisements claiming the Old Pension Scheme is being implemented.

Leaders of block Garhshankar Vinay Kumar and Jagdeep Kumar, who spoke after the meeting, emphasised that no progress had been made in the Budget regarding the Old Pension Scheme, describing this as a betrayal of the employees. They expressed frustration over the government’s inaction, despite their promises.

Taking inspiration from the spirit of Labour Day, the protest on May 1 will serve as a reminder of the unfulfilled promises made by the AAP government regarding employee welfare.

With a united front, the OPPF plans to raise its voice at the district level, urging a decisive resolution for the restoration of the scheme, which remains a critical issue for the state’s public sector employees.

Jalandhar