Railway employees in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand went on a fast on Monday morning demanding the revival of the old pension scheme (OPS). According to spokesperson NK Khawas of the Eastern Central Railway Employees’ Union (ECREU), around 22,000 employees of the Dhanbad Railway Division are participating in the fast.
Demand for the revival of the old pension scheme:
A group of employees has been sitting on a dharna at the premises of the Divisional Railway Manager and other locations. O.P. Sharma, Zonal Secretary of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), stated that while the central government has formed a committee to suggest improvements to the benefits under the New Pension Scheme (NPS), the employees have made it clear that they are not willing to accept anything less than the OPS.
Other states have already revived the old pension scheme:
Sharma further mentioned that several states, including Jharkhand, have already revived the old pension scheme for their employees. Therefore, the employees in Dhanbad are also demanding the OPS, which provides them with a monthly pension equal to 50% of their last drawn salary without any contribution from their end.
Difference between OPS and NPS:
Under the OPS, the employee receives a monthly pension equal to 50% of their last drawn salary, without the need for any contribution. On the other hand, under the NPS, the employee is required to contribute 10% of their basic salary and dearness allowance, while the government also contributes the same amount. The money is invested in various approved pension funds by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
झारखंड के धनबाद जिले में रेलवे के कर्मचारियों ने पुरानी पेंशन योजना को वापस लाने की मांग करते हुए सोमवार की सुबह अनशन पर बैठ गए। धनवाद रेलवे डिवीजन के करीब 22,000 कर्मचारी इस आंदोलन में शामिल हैं। कर्मचारियों ने बताया कि उन्हें पुरानी पेंशन योजना के तहत मासिक पेंशन मिलती है, जबकि नई पेंशन योजना के तहत उन्हें मूल वेतन और महंगाई भत्ते का 10 प्रतिशत योगदान देना पड़ता है। इसलिए कर्मचारी ओपीएस के वापस लाने की मांग कर रहे हैं।
