Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee correspondent
Government and semi-government employees of Maharashtra, including teachers, non-teaching staff went on an indefinite strike on 21 April for their long pending demands. The call for the strike was given by the Coordination Committee for Government, Semi-Government, Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff which represents nearly 17 lakh workers. The strike was also supported by around one lakh nurses of government hospitals by wearing black ribbons at work.
Their main demand was about the implementation of the Revised National Pension Scheme (RNPS) 2024. In March 2023, the then Chief Minister had appointed a three-member committee to study the question of the Old Pension Scheme. In 2024, the Maharashtra government had announced that it had accepted a RNPS but has still not been implemented. Under this scheme, employees will have the option to get a pension of 50 per cent based on their last drawn salary and Dearness Allowance (DA) and a family pension of 60 per cent of their pension and DA. Workers say that the Maharashtra government is dragging its feet over implementation of this scheme, causing loss to employees retired after 1 March 2024.
Their other important demands were extension of retirement age from 58 to 60, regularisation of all contract/daily/part-time employees who have been working continuously for 10 years, immediate lifting of the ban on recruitment of class 4 employees and extension of cashless health benefits.
They also wanted the reconsideration of the New Education Policy.
Workers returned to work on 24 April only after the Chief Minister conceded to a delegation of workers that their long standing demands will be expeditiously considered.
