Statement of All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF)
Over last few years crores of Public Sector Employees have been demanding scrapping of NPS and reinstating OPS for all. Due to this massive opposition Central Government was forced to constitute a committee to discuss the issue with agitating employees. However since the committee refused to discuss scrapping of NPS, All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF) has declared that they are boycotting the committee meetings. This is a very significant development since defence employees constitute a big chunk of the Public Sector Employees. We reproduce here below statement issued by AIDEF.
Statement of AIDEF:
No NPS! Restoration of Pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 (now 2021) is the only solution and way out to the old age security of Govt. Employees!
AIDEF boycotted the NPS Improvement Committee meeting scheduled on 15/07/2024!
AIDEF’s views conveyed to Secretary/Staff side NC(JCM).
Right from 2003 AIDEF has rejected NPS and is relentlessly fighting for scrapping NPS and restoration of pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 (now 2021), independently and through the forum of JFROPS. Our struggle forced the govt. to make the following improvements in NPS.
1) Death cum Retirement Gratuity.
2) Family pension if the employees die while in service.
3) Govt. contribution increased to 14%.
However we are in our struggle to ensure a decent and dignified pension which is available in the Old Pension Scheme with many benefits and protection. More than 5 Lakh Central and State Govt. Employees assembled at Ramlila Maidan and pledged to fight till the NPS is withdrawn. Due to the growing pressure the Modi 2.0 Govt. appointed a Committee under the Finance Secretary (Shri T.V. Somanathan) with Terms of Reference for suggestions for “Improvement in NPS.”
AIDEF submitted a detailed memorandum to the Committee justifying our demand for withdrawal of NPS and restoration of Pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 (now 2021). After that we have decided to boycott the Committee, since the Chairman categorically told that he cannot go beyond his Terms of Reference. In this background the NPS Committee convened a Meeting with the Staff side of the National Council (JCM) on 15/07/2024. Since AIDEF has already decided to boycott the NPS Committee, Com. C. Srikumar, our representative in the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) attended the Staff side meeting and informed our position to the Leader and Secretary/Staff side of NC (JCM) and handed over a letter to both of them reiterating our position that “Improvement in NPS” is not our demand, our demand is “Withdraw NPS and Restore Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 (Now 2021).”
We also requested the other Staff side members to boycott the meeting so as to mount pressure on the Government. A copy of AIDEF Letter dated 11/07/2024 addressed to the Secretary Staff side NC (JCM) along with the relevant enclosures is Annexed with this special circular.
AIDEF appeals to the Defence Civilian Employees and all Central Government and State Government employees to carry forward their relentless struggle to achieve Pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 (Now 2021).
S.N. Pathak, President C. Srikumar, General Secretary