An official notice was issued by the government of Karnataka that stated approximately 13,000 state government employees would be included in the old pension scheme (OPS).
As per the notification, the employees in question were hired post-2006. Siddaramaiah, chief minister, Karnataka, confirmed his commitment to addressing this request, which arose during a strike by government employees against the implementation of the new pension scheme.
The Karnataka chief minister mentioned that during a strike by national pension system (NPS) employees, he assured the employees that he would ensure fulfilment of their demand after assuming office. He expressed hope that this decision brought relief to the families of 13,000 NPS employees.
Under the OPS, government employees receive a monthly pension after retirement, usually half of their last salary. On the other hand, the new pension scheme (NPS) requires employees to contribute a portion of their salaries to a pension fund, resulting in a one-time lump-sum payment upon retirement. This shift occurred in December 2003, when the old scheme ended, and the new scheme began on 1 April 2004.
Siddaramaiah made these statements while launching a project to fill 150 lakes and ponds in 79 villages in Periyapatna Taluk. The water for this project is being sourced from the Cauvery River at Muthtinamulusoge, and the inauguration took place on 24 January 2024.
