Government employees in Assam staged protests on Saturday, 1 Feb, 2025. The employees demanded the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and rejection of both the National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The demonstrations took place across the state, with employees calling it a “black day.”
The UPS, scheduled for implementation from 1 April, was officially notified on 24 January. However, employees argue that it fails to provide financial security after retirement. Assam has around 3.5 lakh state- government employees and 1.5 lakh Central government employees, many of whom participated in the protests.
Wearing black badges, the employees held demonstrations for an hour from noon outside offices and institutions. The All Assam Government NPS Employees’ Association has vowed to continue the agitation until their demands are met and plans to intensify protests from March.
The NPS was introduced in 2004 for Central government employees, replacing the OPS. Over the years, opposition to the NPS has grown, leading to the announcement of the UPS. However, employees argue that both schemes are market-linked and unreliable. Under the UPS, employees must choose between the two systems, with no option to switch later.
Following the protest, the employees’ association released a statement asserting that pension is a right, not a privilege. It criticised the NPS for depriving employees of financial security and accused the government of prioritising corporate interests over worker welfare. The statement also pointed out shortcomings in the UPS, including the absence of a death-cum-retirement gratuity, an unpredictable pension amount, and no provision for contribution refunds.
Employees expressed concerns that after earning Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000 per month before retirement, many retirees under the NPS receive as little as Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 as pension. They argued that the lack of a guaranteed pension under UPS and NPS creates uncertainty and financial distressa