The old pension system will not be reinstated in the state. Instead, a new pension system will remain in effect. If the old pension scheme were to be reintroduced, it would bankrupt the government. Hundreds of thousands of state government employees have been opposing the new pension system. These employees demand the restoration of the old pension scheme. However, the protests by the state government employees have not been deemed justified. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma is firm in his decision to maintain the new pension system that was introduced in 2004.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma reasoned that if government employees were to be given pensions under the old pension system, it would lead to bankruptcy for the government. Within five years, the state’s economy would collapse. Therefore, a decision was made to maintain the new pension policy instead of the old pension system. However, the opposition in the assembly was vocal against this statement by the state government. The government employees do not want the NPS but prefer the OPS system. In response to such comments by the opposition, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated his stance in the assembly.
Out of the 4 lakh government employees in the state, 2 lakh 58 thousand are under NPS, while the rest are under OPS. The NPS accounts for the most recent appointments of approximately 1 lakh employees. The Chief Minister claims that there are no issues concerning the NPS among these newly appointed employees.
On the floor of the house, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had assured government employees of bridging the gap between NPS and OPS. However, Akhil Gogoi raised his voice against the Chief Minister’s failure to fulfill this promise. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma responded vociferously to such criticisms, stating that he would not answer questions that are posed in a manner akin to Naxalites, even if it cost him his life. Akhil Gogoi’s questions on the floor led to opposition leaders Debabrata Saikia and CPI(M)’s Manoranjan Talukdar cornering the ruling party.
The BJP government at the center had initiated the NPS, but the opposition’s demands were not met with any agreement from the government, ultimately leading to the opposition staging a walkout from the session. Outside the assembly, opposition legislators demonstrated their protest by holding placards. Thus, on the final day of the Assam Legislative Assembly’s budget session, the opposition was vocal about issues concerning the NPS.
