OPS vs NPS: Why does the demand for restoration of OPS increase again? Is NPS weakening retirement security? Why is the 2009 batch getting less pay – isn’t this pay inequality? Why was there a need to increase medical allowance from ₹300 to ₹2000 and education allowance from ₹5000? Are pension revisions every 5 years and better fitment factors necessary reforms now?
Srinagar/Jammu: There is a lot of buzz in the country regarding the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission and its recommendations. Meanwhile, government employees and teachers from Jammu and Kashmir have submitted a big demand letter to the Central Government and the Pay Commission regarding their pending demands. Jammu and Kashmir General Line Teachers Forum (JKGLTF) in association with All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) has advocated a radical change in the salary structure, allowances and pension policy. Regarding these concerns that have remained unresolved for years, the teachers clearly say that it is not possible to wait any longer.
Refund of OPS or new pension guarantee? The biggest conflict starts from here
The biggest and controversial demand of teachers is to abolish the National Pension System (NPS) and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The Forum has warned the policy makers that in the present system, the future of teachers after retirement is insecure. The teachers union argues that they want a guaranteed pension system that can provide economic security in their old age, rather than relying on market risks. Along with this, the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has also raised the demand that there should be regular pension revision every five years and the family pension should be increased by 30%, so that the dependents do not have to face financial crisis after the death of the pensioner.
Salary game: When junior’s salary exceeds senior’s!
In this demand letter, a very shocking and serious issue of salary disparity has been raised. According to the forum, a strange situation has arisen due to the 7th Central Pay Commission and complex rules of promotion. Experienced general line teachers, appointed in 2009, are currently paid less than their junior counterparts with less service. To remedy this economic loss and humiliation, teachers have demanded a one-time reform system with retrospective benefits. Apart from this, it has also been recommended to give two notional increments to the qualified teachers of 2019 batch.
Proposal to increase allowances up to 6 times: Will the government agree?
Citing inflation and rising cost of living in their demands, teachers have proposed drastic changes in allowances:
| allowance type | Current amount (per month) | Offered amount (per month) |
| Medical Allowance | ₹300 | ₹2,000 |
| Children’s Education Allowance (CEA) | ₹2,813 | ₹5,000 (per child) |
Teachers say that the current medical allowance of Rs 300 is a joke compared to the treatment expenses in today’s time. At the same time, the actual expense of children’s education is much more than the current allowance. Apart from this, there has been a demand to reduce the waiting period for non-functional promotion from 9 years to 5 or 6 years and to give direct pay level-7 (Grade Pay 4600) after promotion instead of pay level-6A.
Special maze for disabled employees and fight for equality
Citing the remote geographical, difficult seasonal and challenging socio-economic conditions of the Valley and Jammu, the Forum has demanded that teachers here should also get complete equality and facilities on the lines of Delhi or other Union Territories. Along with this, special concessions have been demanded for employees with disabilities (PwDs). There have been calls for enhancing disability and transport allowances, provisions for additional holidays, special tax exemptions and strengthening fixed retirement benefits to relieve them of the additional costs of health care and assistive technologies. Now it remains to be seen what stand the 8th Pay Commission takes on these demands.