In an announcement with far reaching consequences, Peoples United Front today said if elected to power, the PUF will scrap the New Pension Scheme and strengthen the social security net for state government employees and members of three All India Services, IAS, IPS and IPS, posted to J&K.
As per the NPS, employee contribution from salary is matchedby an equal contribution by the Government and at the end of the service theemployee gets pension from this fund which is managed by a central pension fundauthority.
However, over the years there has been a serious lack ofclarity as to the amount and duration of pension employees will get in futureand employee associations have been complaining that NPS has compromised theirsocial security, PUF spokesman in a statement said.
He said that thousands of employees appointed after 2010have approached the PUF with the request to take steps for revocation of NPS inits current format.
“It was in this backdrop and after detailedconsultations with employee associations that PUF decided to take a stand onthis and the step is expected to give hope of safe future to thousands ofemployees who are giving their best for the welfare of this state,” thestatement read.
“Not only the state government employees but members ofAll India Services also who are serving in J&K will be benefitted with thisinitiative. All India Services pay rules are there but it’s the stategovernment which pays their salaries so a mechanism will have to be found toensure at-par treatment. Officers from outside the state have often complainedabout lack of proper housing and education facilities for their families in thestate and this needs to be addressed.
“It will bring back the dignity to government service andraise the morale of government employees,” the spokesman said.
“J&K has not seen adequate industrial developmentand private sector investment over the years. Government is therefore thebiggest employer. But when SRO 202 was brought in it was a serious injusticewith youth who wanted to get government employment. There are better ways offiscal prudence than denying the educated youth their right to dignifiedlivelihood and cutting their salaries below the minimum wage and taking awaythe pension.
Scrapping SRO 202 will be a part of this dignityinitiative,” read the statement.