On August 22 and 23, 2023, the All Assam Government NPS Employees’ Association (AAGNPSEA) has called for a strike to reinstate the old pension scheme, protesting against the national pension system.
Achyutananda Hazarika, president, AAGNPSEA, stated that the NPS was introduced in Assam in 2005, and the Association has been consistently opposing this pension system. He highlighted that other states such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, had already reinstated the OPS.
Backing the strike, various organisations such as the All Assam Heads of the Department Ministerial Officers’ Association, the All Assam District Administration Employees Association, the All Assam Transport Employees Association and the All Assam Primary Teachers Association, have pledged their support.
A collective meeting of 55 organisations, including teachers and employees, was held on July 9, deciding to stage the strike. He asserted that they would send memoranda to both the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, through district commissioner offices to voice their concerns
Earlier, AAGNPSEA had warned about escalating their agitation if the government did not fulfil their demands. The Association has been disappointed that despite repeated assurances, their requests have been ignored.
The Association claimed that retired employees were receiving meagre monthly pensions, which were insufficient for their livelihoods.
Last year, AAGNPSEA organised a foot march and a sit-in demonstration in Guwahati, drawing participation from thousands of government employees, leaders and worker federation members from other states.
