Kohima, March 31 (MExN): Government employees in Nagaland covered under the National Pension System (NPS) will observe a state wide ‘Black Day’ on April 1 to press for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees Forum (NNPSGSEF) in a press statement said its members would wear black badges to express disappointment over the Centre's decision to introduce the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) instead of scrapping the NPS and reverting to the OPS.
Formed in 2022, the forum has units across all 16 districts of the state and has been holding peaceful agitations, representations, dharnas, rallies and state conventions demanding the restoration of the OPS, it stated.
The Central Government introduced the UPS on April 1, 2025, instead of heeding the long-standing demand to scrap the NPS and restore the OPS, the forum said. “The OPS guaranteed old-age security, family protection and dignity in retirement — a fundamental right for those who have served the state and nation with dedication throughout their careers. The NPS and now the UPS have left thousands of employees uncertain about their future, exposing them to market risks and inadequate post-retirement benefits,” it stated.
The NNPSGSEF said wearing the black badge on April 1 was not merely a symbolic gesture but a collective expression of disappointment, anger and unyielding determination.
“Our message is clear. We reject the market-linked pension — NPS/UPS. We firmly demand the complete scrapping of NPS/UPS. We will continue to raise our voice and stand united until the Old Pension Scheme is fully restored for all government employees in Nagaland,” it said.
NNPSGSEF State President Avizo Nienu urged every employee, from the youngest recruit to the senior-most officer, to participate wholeheartedly in the protest. “Let us display discipline, unity and dignity as we wear the black badge on April 1, 2026. Let our collective presence make the government take note of our legitimate aspirations,” he said.
