The Shinde-Fadnavis government appears to have no clear strategy to deal with old pension scheme (OPS) demand. In a reply to a question raised in the legislative council, Deputy CM and FM Devendra Fadnavis has rejected the demand saying it is not possible now. He also said that when the state economy will touch Rs 1 trillion mark only then we could think about it positively. But recently CM Shinde has said in a meeting of primary teachers that the state government is positively thinking about it and will find 'middle way'. Meanwhile, the issue has already become a hot topic with the Congress holding rallies across the state on the vexed issue.
๐ง๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐
A question was raised by MLCs such as Rajesh Rathod and Kapil Patil in the legislative council on Friday March 3. They had asked whether the state government is thinking to implement old pension scheme in Maharashtra on the lines of Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh. To which FM Fadnavis has said, "It is tough to think on these line in current financial condition of state. But it should be possible to think of implementing the scheme once the state's economy touches the Rs 1 trillion mark."
๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฆ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ
Different meanings are being interpreted from Fadnavis's response. First is that Fadnavis has refused to implement OPS right now. Second is that there is clear contradiction between CM Eknath Shinde's assurance to primary teachers and Fadanvis's reply in the house. CM Shinde, while addressing the primary teachers gathering in Sindhudurg district, had said, "state government is aware about the demand of old pension scheme. We will examine legal, financial and technical details about it and will try to find middle way."
But while rejecting the demand of OPS in December 2022 winter session, FM Fadnavis had said, "OPS can't be implemented as state will have to pay 1 lakh 10 thousand crores. This is not viable."
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ถ๐ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐
The flip-flops over OPS could cost Shinde Fadnavis regime dearly. It has already started to show the signs. In recently held teachers and graduate comsituencies council elections, BJP lost in Amravati and Nagpur very badly. There were reports that the teacher wrote down demand of OPS on backside of ballot papers.
Actually, Congress is making this nationwide political issue. A question asked in council had clear mention of Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states. All three have either Congress government or party is partner in rulling alliance. Party has also implemented the scheme in Himachal Pradesh. Not just in other states, but Congress is also making noise in Maharashtra also over demand of implementation of OPS. Recently party held a long march and rally in Kolhapur city for the demand. Congress is planning similar rallies across Maharashtra.
๐ข๐น๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ
The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is a retirement benefit scheme for government employees. In Maharashtra, the OPS was the primary pension scheme for government employees until it was replaced by the National Pension Scheme (NPS) in 2005.
Under the OPS, government employees are entitled to a defined benefit pension upon retirement. The pension amount is based on the employee's length of service and final salary at the time of retirement. The OPS also provides for other benefits, such as family pension, disability pension, and gratuity.
However, some government employees have opposed the shift to the NPS, arguing that it is less beneficial than the OPS. As a result, there have been ongoing discussions and protests regarding the pension system in Maharashtra, and some employees are advocating for a return to the OPS.
