MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government staff on Monday called off their indefinite strike after the Shinde administration agreed ‘in principle' to extend monetary benefits "equivalent" to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to employees who are part of the New Pension System (NPS).
As many as 17 lakh state government employees had participated in an indefinite strike that started on March 14, demanding restoration of the OPS, which was discontinued in 2005.
The striking employees cited the example of Congress-run governments in Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan where the Old Pension Scheme is in operation. “We deserve a decent life after retirement. We want social security. The Old Pension Scheme should be implemented as early as possible. We are not afraid of if the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) is imposed, let the government do anything, we are firm on our demand,” defiant state government employees had said earlier.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met the agitating employees' organisations and assured them that their demand for the OPS will be accepted in the next three months. He described his offer as an 'in principle' acceptance of the OPS.
Speaking in the state legislative council, Shinde welcomed the employees’ decision to call off their strike. "We are very positive about the demand of the employees. Once the report of the committee is received, you can expect a positive decision on the OPS," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government would be working on providing the staff with the benefits of good social security and proper resources after their retirement.
The announcement by the Shinde-Fadnavis government could make Maharashtra the first BJP-ruled state to implement the OPS. Under the Old Pension Scheme, a government employee gets a monthly pension equivalent to 50 per cent of one’s last drawn salary.
(With inputs from PTI)