Unified Pension Scheme: Historic Win for SRMU & AIRF, Says Dr.N.Kanniah, President/AIRF and General Secretary/SRMU

Chennai: Dr.N.Kanniah, President/AIRF and General Secretary/SRMU today addressed Press & media personnel and explained about the negotiations held on 24- 08-2024 evening 6:00 P.M. at the residence of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri.Narendra Modi. Dr.N.Kanniah stated that, the members of the Standing Committee of the Joint Consultative Machinery of Railway and Central Government employees had a fruitful negotiation with the Government of India. During the press interview, SRMU President, Shri.C.A.Raja Sridhar, Assistant General Secretary, Shri.G.Eswarlal and MAS Division Secretary, Shri.Paul Maxwell Johnson were present, along with Dr.N.Kanniah, General Secretary/SRMU and President/AIRF.

20 Years long struggle against NPS leads to victory: Prior to 2004, the Railway and Central Government employees were covered under Pension Scheme, by which, at the time of superannuation, 50% of the last drawn basic pay along with appropriate Dearness Relief was given as "Pension". Whereas, from 01-04-2004, "New Pension Scheme", was introduced, with no guarantee about the pension amount an employee may get. When New Pension Scheme was introduced, SRMU was the first organization to oppose the same. Subsequently, along with AIRF & SRMU, other State and Central Government Labour Unions, JCM Constituents, participated in various struggles, such as, Ralleys, Protest Meetings, Relay Hunger Fast etc., during the last twenty years.

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Last year, on March 1, AIRF/SRMU led JCM constituents issued a "Nation wide Indefinite Strike Notice". Subsequently, the Central Government, formed a Committee headed by the then Finance Secretary and currently, Cabinet Secretary, Shri.T.V.Somanathan. After three rounds of discussion, the Central Government agreed to modify the NPS and to grant 50% of the last drawn salary as Pension.

Dr.N.Kanniah stated that, on 24-08-2024, at evening 06:00 P.M. at the residence of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri.Narendra Modi and in the presence of Hon'ble Finance Minister Smt.Nirmala Sitaraman, Cabinet Secretary, Shri.T.V.Somanathan, held a final round of discussions, in which, along with Shri.S.G.Mishra, General Secretary/AIRF, and held discussions for over one hour, and at the end of the discussion, the following decisions were taken.

Instead of NPS, GPS (Guaranteed Pension) Scheme will be introduced with Assured Pension.

1. From 01-04-2025, instead of NPS, Guaranteed Pension Scheme shall come into effect.

2. Those who are presently covered under NPS, should exercise an option, either to continue in NPS or to switch over to GPS.

3. Those who opt for GPS, at the end of 25 years, when they retire from service, 50% of the Last 12 months Average Basic Pay, will be granted as Pension. To them, the present Central Government contribution shall be reduced from 14% to 10%.

4. In case, if an employee covered under GPS, passes away, then the family members will get 60% of the GPS pension as family pension.

5. Persons receiving GPS pension and GPS family pension, will get Dearness Relief, as per the prevailing price index.

6. If a person covered under GPS, retires from service, after completing 10 years of service, then he or she, will get minimum pension of Rs.10,000/- and currently a Dearness Relief of Rs.10,000/-. Thus, minimum pension under GPS will be Rs.15,000/-.

7. If a person wants to continue under NPS, for them, the Central Government contribution shall continue at 14%. In case, if they get more pension, then, what is available under GPS, they can avail the same, however, they will not get minimum benefit under GPS.

When questioned, that the demand of OPS scheme was not fully achieved and only Assured Pension and Family Pension alone is received, Dr.N.Kanniah replied that, every demand or effort of the working class will not succeed at the first instance itself and that too, fully. He further stated that, by negotiations first we have to achieve primary targets and subsequently by negotiations improve the demands step by step and achieve the target fully.

Initially, under the Old Pension Scheme, the minimum service required for obtaining pension was 35 years and after continued negotiations in every pay commission, the minimum service was reduced to 30 years, 20 years. Initially, the rate of pension was 30% of last drawn basic pay. This was increased to 35%, 40% and finally 50% of the last drawn basic pay. Similarly, Dr.N.Kanniah expressed his hope that, somehow improvements can be made in GPS also.

Dr.N.Kanniah's request to the Hon'ble Prime Minister regarding problems of transfer to employees hailing from other states and change in RRB-RRC recruitment process.

Dr.N.Kanniah stated that, after the conclusion of discussions on NPS, the Hon'ble Prime Minister asked whether any other grievances are there, for the Central Government employees. At that time, Dr.N.Kanniah elaborately explained about the problems faced by over One Lakh employees working in Southern and other South side Railways, who for the past fifteen years, are struggling to get transfers to their native states. He stated that, he explained about the problems of such brothers and sisters, who without knowing the local language, change of food habits and problems faced by them, due to separation of family etc., He further requested the Hon'ble Prime Minister that, like how it was done, during the Britishers' period, the RRB/RRC recruitments should be conducted locally.

The Hon'ble Prime Minister directs the Cabinet Secretary, to consider the demand of SRMU.

Dr.N.Kanniah stated that, the Hon'ble Prime Minister directed the Cabinet Secretary, to consider the problems explained by him, and further directed the Cabinet Secretary, to find a solution for the brothers and sisters, who are hailing from other states, requesting for transfers.

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