The Congress — when in the Opposition — assured government employees it would address their concerns regarding the OPS if voted into power.
Published Jan 25, 2024 | 8:27 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 25, 2024 | 8:27 PM
The Siddaramaiah-led-Karnataka government issues notification pertaining to Old Pension Scheme on Wednesday. (Supplied)
In a significant initiative to alleviate pension-related apprehensions among government employees, the Karnataka government took a decisive step on the night of Wednesday, 24 December, by issuing a notification on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The measure is directed at around 13,000 government employees, who were notified before 1 April, 2006, but assumed their positions at a later date.
This development comes in response to prolonged protests by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA) against the previous BJP government in 2022 and 2023.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka has taken the step to partially fulfil the pension-related demands after seven months in office.
The backdrop of this decision lies in the assurances made by the Congress — when it was in the Opposition — to address the concerns of government employees regarding the OPS, if voted into power.
It also comes in response to concerns surrounding recruitment notifications issued for filling vacancies in the State Civil Services before 1 April, 2006, affecting government employees covered by the New Contributory Scheme (National Pension Scheme).
Despite this partial fulfilment, the Karnataka State Government Employees Association President CS Shadakshari, voiced dissatisfaction.
He noted that the relief was granted to only 13,000 employees, leaving the broader workforce — numbering over 2.5 lakh — without the intended benefits.
Shadakshari told South First that the association would remain committed to continued protests until justice was served.
As a one-time measure, the government has provided an opportunity for all eligible government servants to opt for the erstwhile OPS, subject to specific conditions, as outlined below:
Government employees selected through recruitment notifications issued before 1 April, 2006, and who joined the state government’s service on or after that date are eligible to express their interest in being covered under the OPS. To exercise this option, they must submit their preference directly to the competent appointing authority by 30 June.
Once the decision to opt for the OPS has been made, it is irrevocable.
Failure to exercise the option within the prescribed date will result in the eligible government employees continuing in the National Pension Scheme.
Heads of Departments (HoDs) are responsible for scrutinising proposals received from all appointing authorities under them and submitting the list of eligible employees for coverage under the erstwhile pension scheme to the Finance Department for approval by 31 August.
Additionally, eligible government servants appointed to posts in other government departments after responding to recruitment notifications issued before 1 April, 2006, for State Civil Service vacancies may wish to avail the benefits of the OPS. These individuals are required to appeal to their previous appointing authority by 30 June.
The appointing authority must verify such applications through appropriate channels and facilitate the release of the government servant to report to the selected post in the other department by following the outlined procedures.
The state government, under the leadership of Siddaramaiah, has issued a notification to address the concerns of thousands of government employees, especially those who were recruited after 2006, pertaining to the OPS.
In the run-up to last year’s Karnataka Assembly elections, the then Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief DK Shivakumar expressed support for the government employees who were on strike.
The Congress leaders also assured them that their demands, mainly for the OPS, would be met once the Congress formed government in the state.
2006 ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ ಪೂರ್ವ ನೇಮಕಾತಿ ಅಧಿಸೂಚನೆಯಾಗಿ 2006 ರ ನಂತರ ನೇಮಕಾತಿಗೊಂಡ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಸುಮಾರು 13,000 ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ನೌಕರರಿಗೆ ಹಳೆ ಪಿಂಚಣಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಗೆ ಒಳಪಡಿಸಿ ಆದೇಶ ಹೊರಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಚುನಾವಣೆಗೂ ಪೂರ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಎನ್.ಪಿ.ಎಸ್ ನೌಕರರು ಮುಷ್ಕರು ಮಾಡುವ ವೇಳೆ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಭೇಟಿನೀಡಿ ನಾವು ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದ ನಂತರ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ… pic.twitter.com/ZhRg9SJzx7— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) January 24, 2024
Announcing the OPS for 13,000 employees, now Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “We had met the NPS employees during their strike before the election. I made a commitment to fulfil their demands once we were at the helm.”
He added: “Today, with the issuance of this April 2006 pre-recruitment notification, we have taken a significant step towards honouring that promise. I hope that this has provided relief to the families of 13,000 NPS employees.”
Welcoming the state government’s decision on partial implementation of the OPS, KSGEA president CS Shadakshari pointed out: “The government is yet to serve justice for 2.5 lakh employees. We will continue our protest until justice is served.”
Shadakshari told South First: “The notification issued by the state government applies only to those employees recruited based on the recruitment notifications issued before 1 April, 2006. We are appealing to the state government to consider the employees for OPS based on the notification issued between 2006 to 2011. Around 2.5 lakh employees are still missing out on the OPS. The government has to consider them as well.”
He reiterated that the government employees would continue to protest until the state government implemented the OPS for the remaining 2.5 lakh employees.
It may be noted that the various associations of government employees staged an indefinite demonstration against the state government for the implementation of the OPS in 2022 and 2023.
