Govt Employees Protest At Ramlila Maidan, Demand Restoration Of Old Pension Scheme

A huge number of employees from the Central government, state, and PSUs staged a protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan opposing the New Pension Scheme and demanding the return of the Old Pension Scheme.

A report states that government and Public Sector Unit staff from over 20 states united for the 'Pension Shankhanaad Rally' in opposition to the Central government. The rally was organised by the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS).

Video from the protest at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi features countless government workers calling for the execution of the Old Pension Scheme by protesting against the central government.

The Congress extended its support on the microblogging site X for the demonstrations against the New Pension Scheme, stating that the Congress-ruled states have reinstated the old pension.

Congress said, "Old pension is the right of the employees. Congress and state governments have restored the old pension. Our policy regarding this is clear - employees must get their rights. Modi government should restore the old pension, and honour the workers who serve the country."

Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal expressed his support for the old pension scheme on Sunday, stating he has requested the Central government to reintroduce it for employees of the Delhi government.

His comments were made in the midst of the protest at Ramlila Maidan by federal and state government workers from over 20 states clamouring for the reintroduction of the old pension plan.

"We strongly support the demand of government employees to bring back OPS. NPS is an injustice against employees. We have implemented OPS in Punjab and have written to the Centre for implementing it for Del govt employees. Some other non-BJP governments have also implemented OPS," Arvind Kejriwal said in a post on 'X'.

Meanwhile, an article by RBI staffers characterized the re-adoption of the old pension plan by states as a "significant retrogressive move" that could lead to "unmanageable levels" of financial strain for states in the mid to long term.

It stated that the financial burden of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) could be as much as 4.5 times higher than the New Pension Scheme that was launched more than a decade ago as part of pension reforms.