Scrap NPS and PFRDA Act: All Assam Government NPS Employees’ Association

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The All Assam Government NPS Employees’ Association (AAGNPSEA) has taken two resolutions: scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS) for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and the repeal of the PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) Act, 2013 immediately.

The employees’ association took these two resolutions at its convention, called here today.

Speaking to The Sentinel, association president Achyut Hazarika said, “It needs no explanation, how the NPS is depriving the employees. It is a government system for supplying money to the capitalists. Only the victims can understand, how those, who received a monthly salary of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000 per month until the day before retirement, suddenly received a pension of Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000 each. It is time for everyone, who wants to stabilize the state, country and the social system, to speak out for a change in this system.”

He said that many states in the country have withdrawn the NPS following protests by the employees. “The Central Government made the NPS effective from January 1, 2004 for employees joining the Government since that date. The Assam Government implemented NPS on February 1, 2005 through the issuance of an administrative order,“ he said.

The convention had many prominent speakers, including former vice chancellor of Dubrugarh University, Dr. Alok Burhagohain, who spoke against the NPS. Dr. Burhagohain said, “Despite holding a top post in the education sector, he has to receive a meagre amount as pension. We need to delve deeper in the matter as to how the retired teachers run their families. This is not an injustice, this is social criminal injustice. The authorities need to scrap the NPS.“

APCC president Bhupen Bora said, “The Congress supported the NPS, as economists had recommended it. However, the CWC (Congress Working Committee) took a resolution opposing the NPS and seeking the restoration of the OPS. The 15-party opposition forum in the state also opposes the NPS. If the BJP government in the state scraps the NPS, we will support it. If the BJP government doesn’t scrap it, and if the opposition alliance comes to power in the state, we will scrap NPS in the first sitting of the Cabinet.”

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