Assam Government to follow Centre’s policy: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A detailed discussion took place in the Assam Legislative Assembly on Tuesday regarding the National Pension System (NPS) and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). During the discussion, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam Government would abide by whatever decision the Central Government takes in this regard. If the Centre restores OPS, the Assam Government will also do so, he said.

Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi today moved a resolution in the House. He said that the NPS was introduced on February 1, 2005 in Assam and ever since, the State Government employees are living in social and financial insecurity. The employees have resorted to agitation to demand scrapping on NPS and restoration of OPS. “Keeping the future of the government employees in mind, the Assam Government must consider re-introducting OPS,” said Gogoi. He cited the example of a teacher of a government school who was covered under NPS. After retirement, he is getting a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 only.

In reply, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Those who joined government service after 2005 have been covered under NPS. The first batch of employees covered under NPS will retire in 2035. So it is only in 2035 when we will see the impact of NPS – whether it benefits the employees or not. It has been assumed that if an employee under NPS serves his full tenure, on retirement he will get more benefits that an employee covered under OPS. But we will get the correct picture only in 2035.”

The Chief Minister said that under NPS, employees have to contribute 10% from their basic salary while the State Government contributes 14% to their fund. “We are moving along with the Central Government in this matter. The Central Government gives dearness allowance (DA) to its employees, the Assam Government also gives 32% DA to its employees. But the West Bengal government gives only 6% DA,” he said.

He further said, “The agitation by the government employees to demand restoration of OPS is a bit pre-mature because it is only in 2035 that we will come to know how much pension an employees under NPS gets. Also, the decision that the Assam Government will move with the Centre with regard to the pension scheme was taken during the tenure of the Congress government when I was also a cabinet minister. And this decision was taken after discussion with the Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad (SAKP). So on the basis on this decision, we are doing what the Centre is doing. If the Centre decides to bring back OPS, the Assam Government will also bring back OPS.

“Of course, we will have to take into consideration differential payment. If in 2035 we see that an employee under NPS gets lesser pension than an employee under OPS, the Assam Government may consider paying the deficit amount to the employees. The government is moving with an open-minded mindset. It is not against the employees. If in 2035 we find a gap in the pension amount of an employee under NPS as compared to the pension amount of an employee under OPS, the government will fill up the gap and pay the deficit amount.”

The Chief Minister said that talks about restoration of OPS were going on at the Centre and the Central Government employees will not sit quietly if they get lesser pension under NPS than OPS. “I will also take up the issue with the Centre. The Assam Government will always keep the interest of its employees in mind. Which state government in the country pays the full salary of a deceased employee to his family till 60 years? Only the Assam Government does that. We are also mulling a cashless health facility for our employees. I have also asked the Finance Minister to continue discussions with NPS government employees,” he said.

The resolution moved by MLA Akhil Gogoi was later rejected on the basis of voice vote.

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