Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday stated that implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) would harm the state’s economy. He highlighted the benefits of National Pension System (NPS) for employees. Opposition members disagreed, leading to a walkout in the Assembly.
Sarma revealed that 4,34,454 retirees are under the state government’s pension, with 1,75,998 under OPS and 2,58,456 under NPS. He emphasized that NPS provides respectable pension amounts, especially for those who enroll at a younger age, unlike OPS.
The Assam government currently spends over Rs 1,700 crore monthly on pension payments for employees. Sarma warned that adopting OPS could lead to the pension bill surpassing the salary bill within five years, ultimately damaging the state’s economy. A committee has been formed by the Central government to assess NPS benefits and drawbacks.
“We adhere to the Central government’s pension plans because we implement their pay scale here. Under the NPS, individuals who enlisted at a younger age — such as 25 — will receive a respectable pension amount,” said Sarma. He acknowledged that some employees nearing NPS retirement might face financial challenges, which the government is addressing.
