Arunachal government employees take to streets over pension uncertainty

A large rally led by the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP), along with its wing, the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme, was held in Itanagar on April 17, demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for state government employees.

 

The ‘Itanagar Chalo Maha Rally’ called for the scrapping of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), with participants arguing that the current system fails to provide assured financial security after retirement. The demonstration drew significant participation from government employees and their family members.

 

Addressing the media, CoSAAP president Likha Tech said the demand for reinstating OPS has remained unresolved despite multiple memorandums and representations submitted to the state government over the years.

 

He criticised the NPS as being dependent on market-linked returns, warning that it exposes employees to financial uncertainty. “The future of employees and their families is tied to market fluctuations under NPS,” he said.

 

Tech added that similar demands to roll back NPS and restore OPS have been raised in several other states and Union Territories, reflecting wider dissatisfaction among government employees.

 

The rally began from the RK Mission Hospital compound and concluded at IG Park, passing through key routes in the capital.

 

(Follow the India Today North East WhatsApp Channel now: https://tinyurl.com/4p24v3sj)