A large number of government employees in Arunachal Pradesh took to the streets of Itanagar on April 17, demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and raising concerns over the uncertainty linked to the New Pension Scheme (NPS).The protest, called the ‘Itanagar Chalo Maha Rally’, was led by the Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) along with its affiliate, the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme. Employees from different departments, along with their family members, joined the rally in large numbers, making it one of the biggest demonstrations by state staff in recent times.
The rally started from the RK Mission Hospital compound and moved through key roads in the capital before concluding at IG Park. Protesters raised slogans and carried placards, urging the state government to scrap the New Pension Scheme and bring back the Old Pension Scheme.Speaking to the media, CoSAAP president Likha Tech said that employees have been raising this issue for several years. He said multiple memorandums and representations have been submitted to the government, but no concrete decision has been taken so far. Tech criticised the New Pension Scheme, saying it does not guarantee a fixed pension after retirement. He pointed out that the NPS is linked to market performance, which makes it uncertain and risky for employees. “The future of employees and their families is tied to market fluctuations under NPS,” he said, adding that this creates anxiety among workers who depend on a stable income after retirement.
He further said that the demand to restore the Old Pension Scheme is not limited to Arunachal Pradesh. Similar protests and demands have been seen in several other states and Union Territories, where employees have expressed dissatisfaction with the NPS and called for a more secure pension system.Participants in the rally said that under the Old Pension Scheme, employees had a clear and assured benefit after retirement, which provided a sense of financial security. In contrast, they said the New Pension Scheme lacks predictability, making it difficult for employees to plan their future.
