Jaipur: State government employees who retired before April 1, 2022, have demanded that in order to get the benefits of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), they should be allowed to re-deposit (from the money they have withdrawn post retirement) only the government’s contribution made under the National Pension Scheme (NPS). They point out that this is the pattern in Chhattisgarh, where also the Congress party is in power.
Representatives of the New Pension Scheme Employees’ Federation of Rajasthan (NPSEFR) say the state government has assured them of fulfilling their demand. However, a finance department official said the above-mentioned proposal was still not under consideration.
The notification issued by the Chhattisgarh government states that “in the cases of retirement/death of employees between November, 1, 2004 and the date of implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), to get benefits of OPS, (employees) have to deposit the government contribution and the dividend earned on withdrawal (till date) in the government fund.”
OPS was restored in Rajasthan with effect from April 1, 2022. “We have assurance from the government that this demand of ours will be implemented soon.
About 3,500 government employees have retired between January 1, 2004, and March 31, 2022. However, only about 1,000 employees are eligible for OPS. This will only cost the state government about Rs 1 crore annually,” said Vinod Kumar, state coordinator, NPSEFR. Earlier, the finance department had issued an unofficial note stating retired employees of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, boards and corporations set up after January 1, 2004, were required to re-opt for OPS by June 30, and they had to deposit only the employer’s share of CPF received after retirement received after retirement with a minimum interest of 12 per cent.
Representatives of the New Pension Scheme Employees’ Federation of Rajasthan (NPSEFR) say the state government has assured them of fulfilling their demand. However, a finance department official said the above-mentioned proposal was still not under consideration.
The notification issued by the Chhattisgarh government states that “in the cases of retirement/death of employees between November, 1, 2004 and the date of implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), to get benefits of OPS, (employees) have to deposit the government contribution and the dividend earned on withdrawal (till date) in the government fund.”
OPS was restored in Rajasthan with effect from April 1, 2022. “We have assurance from the government that this demand of ours will be implemented soon.
About 3,500 government employees have retired between January 1, 2004, and March 31, 2022. However, only about 1,000 employees are eligible for OPS. This will only cost the state government about Rs 1 crore annually,” said Vinod Kumar, state coordinator, NPSEFR. Earlier, the finance department had issued an unofficial note stating retired employees of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, boards and corporations set up after January 1, 2004, were required to re-opt for OPS by June 30, and they had to deposit only the employer’s share of CPF received after retirement received after retirement with a minimum interest of 12 per cent.
