HT Correspondent
BISWANATH CHARIALI, Aug 23: The National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB) has expressed astonishment over the two-day strike that unfolded on Tuesday and Wednesday, protesting against the government’s New Pension Scheme (NPS) policy. Following the introduction of a new pension scheme by the government of Assam after 2005, the retirement prospects of more than 300,000 state employees have been placed in jeopardy.
The NHRCCB has underscored the uncertainty that looms over the post-retirement lives of employees from various departments under the state government. The bureau has called for a reevaluation of the pension scheme by both the state and union governments.
Nishant Thard, the state president of NHRCCB, emphasised that the two-day strike carried out by Assam’s NPS employees through a democratic process signifies the gravity of the issue. He warned that this matter could adversely affect the state’s development across all dimensions. In an effort to address this pressing concern, the organisation has dispatched separate letters to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, through email. Thard stressed that employees across government departments have diligently served with dedication and sincerity.
The president of NHRCCB noted that the New Pension Scheme (NPS) could undermine the development of a genuine work culture due to the lack of mental contentment among government employees. The organisation firmly believes that ensuring the future security of employees necessitates the reintroduction of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) or amending the existing new pension policy to guarantee financially secure retirement lives for employees.
Additionally, the statement revealed that the NHRCCB has concerns regarding the proper and timely utilisation of funds deducted from the monthly salaries of Assam’s employees under the new pension scheme for stock market investments.
