There is a relief news for the employees on the Old Pension Scheme. A large number of employees can get the benefit of the old pension scheme, provided they apply for switching from NPS to OPS before the deadline. This is news for those employees of Jammu and Kashmir who have joined the government service through the recruitment advertisement issued before 24 December 2009, even if their reinstatement took place after 24 December 2009. For such employees, the government has given a one time option to switch from NPS to OPS.
This letter was issued on 29 September and time of 3 months was given. This means that out of this 3 month deadline, 1 month has ended and only 2 months are left. Before December 29, employees will have to apply for this as per the prescribed procedure.
Hope among employees demanding old pension
The Finance Department has issued an official order in this regard. After the release of the letter by the government, a ray of hope has started appearing for those government employees in other states too, who had applied before December 2009 and joined the job, but have been deprived of the benefits of the old pension scheme. According to Dr. Manjeet Patel, National President of AINPSEF, this decision is special because it has increased the hope for those employees of Delhi and other states who are fighting in the courts for the demand of old pension.
first understand the whole matter
The Central Government had implemented the New Pension Scheme (NPS) for the employees coming into government service since 2004. Under this, pension contribution scheme was started. That means contribution of employees also became necessary in this. Whereas the Old Pension Scheme was given entirely from the government treasury.
Well, on the lines of the Centre, the Jammu and Kashmir government also issued the notification of NPS on 24 December 2009. Under this, the old pension scheme was abolished and the new pension scheme was implemented for the employees who joined service on or after January 1, 2010.
After this, a large number of employees started demanding to go to the old pension scheme. They were making efforts at the legal and administrative level for a long time. Now, after the approval of the Cabinet, the government has given an opportunity (one-time option) to the employees holding such old advertised posts to choose the old pension scheme.
What will the employees have to do?
The most important thing is that from the date of issue of this order i.e. 29th September, employees have only 3 months time to choose the old pension scheme. 1 month has passed since then. That means eligible employees have only 2 months left.
As mentioned, eligible employees have to submit their option form to the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) of their department. These officers will send it to the administrative department for further investigation.
After this, as soon as the order of an employee to switch to the old pension scheme is approved, his old NPS account will be closed and he will be made a member of the General Provident Fund (GPF).
Can the people of Delhi also get the benefit?
Dr. Manjeet Patel, National President of All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) said that since Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory, the expectations among the employees of Delhi and other states have also increased. He said, ‘NPS was endorsed in Jammu and Kashmir after 2009 and at that time Jammu and Kashmir had its own constitution. Since now Jammu and Kashmir is also a Union Territory like Delhi since 2019, a base has been prepared for Delhi.
Source: ndtv.in
