Srinagar, Nov 03: The Jammu and Kashmir Ministerial Federation (JKLADCSA) organized a significant one-day convention at the Town Hall in Anantnag, where they appealed for restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and SRO 43 of 1994 echoed strongly.
Jeelani Naik, President of JKLADCSA, presided as the chief guest, with distinguished invitees such as Rajesh Sharma, and other senior trade union leader joining the event.
As per a statement, the convention saw participation from employees across multiple departments and trade union leaders, underscoring the shared commitment to secure the financial future of government employees.
During the convention, the speakers highlighted the pressing need for restoring OPS and SRO 43. The Old Pension Scheme has been the backbone of financial security for retirees, offering them a dignified and reliable means of sustenance after decades of dedicated service. This is especially critical as employees retiring at the age of 60 are often unable to cope with everyday challenges without a stable pension to support their domestic needs.
By providing fixed pension benefits independent of market fluctuations, OPS helps ensure the consistent welfare of retirees. In contrast, the current National Pension Scheme (NPS) places employees at the mercy of volatile market conditions, often resulting in uncertain returns during their most vulnerable years when they require stability for healthcare and basic living expenses.
Jeelani Naik stressed that restoring OPS aligns with the social security ethos vital to the welfare of the employee community. He pointed out that the progress and development of Jammu and Kashmir also rely on the welfare of its employee base. The collective voice of the speakers called upon the Honorable Prime Minister to uphold the principles of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” by reinstating OPS, thus securing the future of thousands of employees who have dedicated their lives to public service.
Furthermore, they noted that the Chief Minister has incorporated the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in his party’s manifesto, a testament to the commitment towards the welfare of the workforce in Jammu and Kashmir.
The time has come for this promise to be fulfilled, as the employees welfare is instrumental to sustainable development across the Union Territory. We remain hopeful that our unified voices will resonate with our leaders, and that the restoration of OPS will soon become a reality for the committed workforce of Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said.
Rajesh Sharma and S. Gurmeet Singh in their address, urged trade union leaders across the Union Territory to unify under a single banner for this cause, emphasizing that OPS restoration transcends individual interests and represents a collective goal shared by all. They encouraged employees appointed under the NPS to actively participate in this movement and proposed that passionate representatives from this group should lead this noble cause forward.
Other prominent leaders, including Mir Muzaffar, S. Gurmeet Singh, Ashish Sharma, Mir Bashrat, Asif Habib, Atta-ullah Rather, Javid Ahmad Rather, Mohd Maqbool, Shahnawaz Ahmad Khan, Javid Ahmad Shah, Nazir Hussain, and Syed Safvi, also joined the collective appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Their shared message conveyed the critical importance of OPS restoration as a unifying goal for all employees across the region, the statement said.
