Latest news with #OldPensionScheme
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: PSPCL employees warn of mass leave protest
Agitated by the continued delay in issuing official notifications for the demands accepted during the June 2 meeting in Mohali, electricity workers already observing a strict 'work-to-rule' campaign, staged a protest on Sunday, as a part of the state level demonstration. During this, the protesting employees warned that if the state government fails to act on its commitments, they will go on a mass leave protest from August 11 to 13. The protesting employees warned that if the state government fails to act on its commitments, they will go on a mass leave protest from August 11 to 13. (HT Photo) The protest is being jointly led by several associations including the PSEB Employees Joint Forum, Bijli Mulazam Ekta Manch Punjab, Association of Junior Engineers, Grid Sub Station Employees Union, Powercom and Transco Pensioners Union (AITUC Punjab), and the Pensioner Welfare Federation. Employees said their frustration stems from a meeting chaired by power minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on June 2 at the PSPCL guest house in Mohali, during which several demands were agreed upon. However, nearly two months later, they allege that the power management has deliberately delayed issuing the necessary notification and beginning the implementation process. The unions have flagged several key issues, including the non-payment of the pending 13% dearness allowance, non-restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, unresolved salary and pension anomalies, unpaid arrears, and what they term as the 'stealth' privatisation of the power sector. Protesters also criticised the delay in compensating families of workers who died during last year's paddy season, the lack of a cashless treatment facility for injured employees, and the imposition of Central Pay Scales in place of the power corporation's agreed scales. Further grievances include a rise in workplace fatalities, politically motivated transfers, denial of promotion-linked benefits, and the continued exploitation of in-house contract workers due to non-regularisation. Pensioners are particularly upset over a monthly deduction of ₹200 under the development tax, calling it arbitrary and unjustified. Union leaders have stated that if the government fails to respond promptly, the responsibility for any disruption in electricity services during the mass leave protest period will lie entirely with the state government and the power corporation's management.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: State teachers' union submits charter of demands to dist officials
The members of Government Teachers' Union (GTU) submitted a detailed memorandum of demands to district education officers (DEOs), addressed to the chief minister and the state education minister, seeking urgent reforms in service conditions, salaries, and working environments. The union warned that if these demands are not met soon, the teaching community across Punjab will intensify its protest. (HT Photo) Led by the state teachers' union, the memorandum raises strong concerns over long-standing issues that have remained unresolved, despite repeated assurances. The union demanded that salaries of all employees be released by the first of every month without delay. Pending dues such as GPF advances, leave encashment, and other financial benefits should be cleared immediately. Another key demand is the generalisation of favourable court decisions across similar teacher recruitment cases, ensuring uniform relief for all affected teachers. The union also urged the state government to revoke rejected transfer requests and to stop unwarranted political interference in the formation and functioning of school management committees. The memorandum also appeals for the restoration of academic dignity by ending non-teaching duties imposed on teachers—especially tasks assigned on Sundays and holidays, such as data form submissions and document collections. Teachers insisted that all cadres, including ETT, C&V, master cadre, lecturers, principals, BPEOs, and assistant directors, receive timely promotions and vacant posts be filled on priority. The union also highlighted the need to address the staffing crisis. It demanded filling of vacant posts for clerks, data entry operators, and support staff, especially at block and district offices. Additionally, 59 contractual employees and 29 dismissed headmasters working under Samagra Shiksha should be made permanent and reinstated immediately. Teachers from Model Schools, Meritorious Schools, and Adarsh Schools, including those under NSQF, demanded inclusion under regular pay scales. A special transfer window was also requested for teachers promoted to lecturer posts or working outside their preferred districts. Importantly, the union urged the reinstatement of 1904 abolished posts of head teachers and subject-specific positions like drawing teachers and work education instructors in middle schools. On the financial front, the union demanded the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, withdrawal of pay cuts under central scales, reinstatement of the higher grade pay introduced in 2011, and restoration of all withheld allowances. They also called for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission's final report with 2.59 fitment factor from January 2016 and the immediate release of 125% pending dearness allowance. Another major point was the demand for periodic pay revisions every five years as recommended by the Kothari Commission. Families of teachers who lost their lives due to COVID-19 should receive ₹50 lakh ex-gratia and assured government jobs for dependents. 'The 8886 teachers should receive complete salary and allowances from April 2018, and recent central scale notifications issued after July 17, 2020, should be withdrawn. Teachers recruited under advertisement numbers for ETT (180 posts), master cadre (3582 posts), and DPE (837 posts) must be brought under uniform pay scales, revoking dual salary structures,' said Jagjit Singh Mann, district president of the union. The union warned that if these demands are not met soon, the teaching community across Punjab will intensify its protest.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Chandigarh adopts old pension scheme for eligible employees covered under NPS
The Chandigarh Administration has announced a significant policy shift, transitioning eligible employees currently under the National Pension System (NPS) back to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, aligning with a March 2023 directive from the Government of India. This decision, based on Office Memorandum No. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B) dated March 3, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, targets employees appointed to posts or vacancies advertised or notified on or before December 22, 2003, but who joined service on or after January 1, 2004, and were thus enrolled in the NPS. The move addresses long-standing demands from government employees for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which guarantees a fixed pension post-retirement, unlike the market-linked NPS. The OPS, seen as a more secure option, offers 50% of the last drawn salary as pension, adjusted for inflation, providing greater financial stability for retirees. The NPS, introduced in 2004, relies on contributions from employees and employers, with returns subject to market fluctuations, raising concerns among employees about retirement security. The Chandigarh Administration has mandated that the process of identifying eligible employees and completing their transition to the CCS (Pension) Rules be finalised by August 15, 2025. This involves verifying service records and ensuring compliance with the central directive, a task assigned to respective departments. Officials have hailed the decision as a progressive step toward enhancing social security for long-serving government personnel, reinforcing the administration's commitment to employee welfare. This policy shift reflects a broader trend across states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh, which have also reinstated the OPS in response to employee unions' demands. However, critics argue that reverting to the OPS could strain public finances, given its non-contributory nature and rising pension liabilities. For Chandigarh's employees, the decision is a welcome relief, promising greater certainty in their post-retirement lives.
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
8th Pay Commission: Govt receives wish list from staff representatives
Finalising panel's terms of reference for hikes, which may kick in from Jan premium Ruchika Chitravanshi Asit Ranjan Mishra New Delhi Listen to This Article Six months after the government announced plans to set up the Eighth Central Pay Commission to review its employees' emoluments, it has received suggestions from staff representatives for the panel's consideration. These suggestions include reinstating the Old Pension Scheme for government employees who joined service after 2004 and improving other retirement benefits, devising methods to ensure cashless medical benefits to employees and pensioners, and providing a child education allowance as well as a hostel subsidy till the post-graduation level. The panel's recommendations would impact around 4.5 million government employees and 6.8 million pensioners, including defence personnel. While the government is
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Property value for stamp duty rebate to women raised to Rs 1 cr
Lucknow: In a major relief for women to whom any immovable property like house or land is transferred, the state cabinet on Tuesday decided to increase the cost of property on which rebate of 1% on stamp duty is permitted from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore. So far, a rebate of 1% was allowed only if a property worth Rs 10 lakh or less was transferred to a woman, and if the value was higher, a maximum rebate of Rs 10,000 was offered. Now, the value of the property has been increased to Rs 10 crore and the maximum rebate permissible has also been increased to Rs 1 lakh. The cabinet also approved a proposal to provide an extension to govt employees to apply for the Old Pension Scheme. Last year, govt had allowed all such employees who had been appointed on April 1, 2005 or after but for whom the post had been advertised before March 28, 2005, the date on which UP Govt took out the notification for implementation of the new pension policy. The date for application for switching to the Old Pension Scheme was Oct 31, 2024 while the order had to be issued by March 31, 2025. The cabinet has now allowed for an extension of the date. One can now apply till Sept 30, 2025 while the order has to be issued by the department by Nov 30, 2025. The date for closure of NPS accounts has also been extended to Feb 28, 2026. In pursuance of a recent decision by govt to provide only tablets to beneficiaries of the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Sashaktikaran Scheme, against a decision of July 18, 2022 to provide tablets and iPhones, the cabinet decided to cancel its own order of Jan 22, 2025 under which it had given approval for purchasing 25 lakh smart phones under the scheme. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo This year, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for purchase of tablets, which will be provided to youth pursuing graduate, postgraduate, diploma, skill development degrees etc. In another decision, the cabinet approved transfer of a plot of land to M/s RAPHE mPhibr for expansion of its production. The company has already invested Rs 800 crore in plant and machinery in Noida's B200, Phase-II, Sector 81 for construction of UAV engines and other systems for the Indian Armed Forces. A plot B-219 measuring 4.62 hectare which is with Parag is being sold to it at Rs 101 crore. Land in lieu of this will be allocated to Parag by Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority to set up a new dairy plant with capacity of 4 lakh litres milk production per day. The plant will be set up by M/s RAPHE mPhibr at its own cost.
