NNPSGSEF & CANSSEA members during the National Protest Day held outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima on September 26. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 27
The Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees Forum (NNPSGSEF) and the Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees' Association (CANSSEA) organized a National Protest Day today outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima. This demonstration, held in solidarity with the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF), aimed to present a charter of demands to the state government concerning various employee benefits, including pension reforms, regularization, and appointment policies.
Among their key demands, the associations called for the repeal of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Act and the scrapping of both the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). They advocated for the restoration of the Old Pension System, insisting that "fund managers return the amount deposited to the state government" and that all subscribers be brought under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) 95, transitioning to a Defined Benefit Pension System.
Further demands included regularization of all contractual employees and an end to the practice of contractual, outsourced, and daily wage employment in the government sector. The associations urged the government to fill all vacancies within state departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) on a regular basis. They voiced opposition to the privatization and corporatization of PSUs, as well as the downsizing of government departments.
Additional requests encompassed the implementation of a comprehensive health insurance scheme supported by the government to ensure cashless treatment for all, including pensioners and contractual employees. They also demanded a periodic wage revision every five years and the release of all confiscated dearness allowance arrears.
In a broader context, the associations called for the abandonment of the National Education Policy (NEP), the repeal of specific articles of the Constitution, and the introduction of measures to uphold secularism while combating communalism. They also sought an increase in the income tax ceiling limit to Rs 10 lakh.
These demands were part of the resolutions from the All India State Government Employees Federation's national meeting held in Hyderabad on August 13 and 14, where a ten-point charter of demands was established.
The protest featured speeches from notable leaders, including Yhunshenlo Kent, general secretary of CANSSEA; K Ritse, joint secretary of CANSSEA; Moanungsang, president of NNPSGSEF; and Avizo Neinu, spokesperson for NNPSGSEF. The event was chaired by Jentinochet Amri, vice president of NNPSGSEF, with closing remarks delivered by Dr. Ilang, advisor to CANSSEA.
