Assam: Sea of protesters gather at Guwahati’s Khanapara field demanding removal of National Pension System

Voices echoed Guwahati's Khanapara field on November 8, as a sea of protesters reached the field demanding the removal of the National Pension System. 

The All Assam Government NPS Employees’ Association (AAGNPSEA) led anti-NPS stir was taken out in support of replacing the NPS with the OPS (Old Pension Scheme). 

Dhruba Jyoti Sarma, the general secretary of the ASESWU, stated in a statement that the union has been holding demonstrations against the introduction of NPS in the electricity sector for the past 18 years. Sarma claimed that neither the Center nor the State Governments have taken any action to safeguard the post-retirement interests of public employees by reestablishing the secure OPS.

Over 50,000 teachers, police officers, and other authorities joined the padyatra in addition to AAGNPSEA members. The event included participation from more than 100 employee leaders from throughout the nation, 100 leaders from different state government employee and teacher organisations, and notable individuals.

One of the protesters participating at the padyatra, while speaking to India TodayNE said, “Our protest demanding the replacement of NPS with the OPS will continue. We have worked as venture employees for 25 years and another eight years without salary. In the last eight years, have been receiving a pension of only Rs 1700. It is beyond possible to feed a family with this meagre amount. If an MLA after completing his 5-year tenure can receive a pension, we have worked for 33 years. Why keep us away from the pension scheme? Hence, I on behalf of my friends, colleagues and union workers would like to say that our struggle demanding NPS shall continue for a longer period. Until and unless our demands are not met, our protest shall continue. This isn’t a political rally. And I think our chief minister is able enough to address our issued and demands. If he wishes, no work can go unaddressed. I immensely hope that our CM will surely address our demands. There won’t be any CM like him in the future. He has worked for the public, had done a lot and even announced many schemes. We are government employees and hence will never go against him. As government employees, we would like to request him to provide protection to our family through a fruitful pension scheme.”

Additionally, the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees, Engineers, and Pensioners (NCCEEEP) is hosting a protest event at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on November 23 in which ASESWU will also take part to call for the cancellation of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022.