Maharashtra's government and semi-government employees are preparing for a "family march" on November 8. Their demand is the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). This protest comes after the state government's rejection of OPS. The situation has now escalated, with employee unions threatening an indefinite strike beginning on December 14.
The demand for OPS gained popularity during the legislative council elections in January this year. Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister, had initially hinted at a positive response to the matter. However, this stance led to political consequences, with the BJP losing key constituencies in Nagpur and Amravati to MVA candidates.
In response to the ongoing OPS issue, state employees conducted a walkout on March 14 during the legislature's budget session. To address the matter, the state government formed a committee led by veteran IAS officer Subodh Kumar. This led to the end of the walkout on March 20, but the government has not presented any proposals regarding the pension issue since.
Despite initially granting a three-month period for the Subodh Kumar committee to produce a report on OPS, more than seven months have passed without any significant progress or the state government's response. In response to this lack of action and strategic awareness by the government, the coordination committee of 219 employee unions has decided to take further steps.
Their plan involves a "family march" on November 8, occurring in every district and tehsil, passing by the district collector and tehsildar offices with banners bearing the slogan "My family, my pension." Additionally, an indefinite strike is scheduled to commence on December 14.
What are Employees' Demands?
The employee unions aim not only to advocate for the OPS but also to present the staff's viewpoint on the Subodh Kumar committee report. They have shown dissatisfaction with the state government's strategy and its lack of understanding of the OPS demand.
In addition to the demand for OPS, the employees have put forward several other requests. These include ending the indirect privatisation of the education sector, prohibiting contract hiring, and ensuring the prompt filling of all vacant positions through appropriate channels.
What is the Old Pension Scheme (OPS)?
The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) provides government employees with a pension equal to 50% of their base pay and dearness allowance upon retirement. This pension does not require government employees to make contributions and offers financial security after retirement. The scheme was discontinued in Maharashtra in 2005 due to the state's high debt levels and the significant allocation of government revenue to salaries and pensions, leaving less funding for developmental projects.
Since OPS's discontinuation, government employees are required to give 10% of their base pay to a new, contribution-based pension plan, which operates through investments in pension funds. But government workers prefer OPS as it offers benefits after their passing and ensures a fixed pension amount with automatic increases in dearness allowance.
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