JAMMU, SEPT 19: The National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS), J&K Chapter, has stepped up its campaign for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), demanding that the Government initiate a concrete, time-bound process to address the pension concerns of employees presently covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
The demand came during a Central Executive Committee meeting held under the leadership of NMOPS J&K State President Mohammed Ashraf Sheikh, where the organisation put renewed focus on employees appointed on or after January 1, 2010, as well as those whose recruitment process had commenced before the cut-off date but who formally joined Government service later.
Sheikh said NMOPS J&K would continue to press the Government for restoration of OPS and urged authorities to address the issue through appropriate administrative and legislative forums.
He particularly demanded that employees whose advertisement, selection, engagement or appointment process had been initiated before January 1, 2010, but whose formal joining took place after the cut-off date, be considered for coverage under OPS.
“Employees whose recruitment process was initiated before 2010 but who formally joined Government service after 2010 should also be considered for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme. Their cases are linked to the circumstances and timeline of recruitment, and their genuine concerns deserve consideration,” Sheikh said.
The NMOPS leadership also raised the demand for an appropriate Family Pension Scheme for eligible employees and their dependants, urging the Government to examine pension models adopted by other States and frame a suitable mechanism for Jammu and Kashmir within the applicable legal and administrative framework.
Sheikh said pension security cannot be viewed merely as a service-related demand, asserting that it has a direct bearing on the post-retirement financial security of employees and their families.
“Employees who devote their entire working lives to public service deserve dependable retirement security. Their families also require adequate social protection. The Government must therefore examine both restoration of OPS and an appropriate Family Pension Scheme,” he said.
The NMOPS leader also put the spotlight on the National Conference manifesto commitment on OPS, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the commitment.
With the Assembly Session approaching, Sheikh said the Government now has an opportunity to take up the issue comprehensively and evolve a clear roadmap on pension policy.
“We respectfully remind the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the commitment reflected in the manifesto regarding the Old Pension Scheme. We urge the Government to take concrete steps and provide a clear roadmap for addressing the concerns of employees covered under NPS,” Sheikh said.
NMOPS J&K maintained that the organisation was ready for structured and constructive dialogue with the Government and employee representatives, but stressed that the long-pending concerns of NPS employees could not remain unresolved indefinitely.
The meeting also reviewed organisational activities and discussed measures to strengthen coordination among NMOPS units across Jammu and Kashmir. The leadership called for systematic documentation of employees’ grievances and their pursuit through established democratic and administrative channels.
The organisation reiterated that its campaign for pension security would remain peaceful, disciplined and constitutional, while seeking meaningful engagement with the Government.
Sheikh also called for a structured review of cases involving employees whose recruitment process began before 2010 but who were appointed or joined Government service subsequently, saying the organisation would continue to pursue the issue until an appropriate policy framework was evolved.
The meeting was attended by UT Senior Vice President Vishal Manhas, Vice President Syed Muneer Hussain, General Secretary Mohan Singh, Deputy General Secretary Dr Karamjeet Singh, Secretary Sandeep Bhat, Convenor Jalil Ahmed, Media Secretary Vikee Pandita, Coordinator Muntazir Khalid, Organiser Amar Mooman, Spokesperson Mohd Mahroof Choudhary, IT Cell Incharge Sushil Kumar Sharma, besides other members of the Central Executive Committee.
NMOPS J&K reiterated its demand for restoration of OPS, consideration of eligible pre-2010 recruitment cases and stronger social-security provisions for employees and their families, saying the issues would continue to be pursued through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means.
