Government Employees in Sikkim Welcome PM Modi, Appeal for Restoration of Old Pension Scheme
Gangtok: As Sikkim marks the 50th anniversary of its Statehood, Group C & D government employees across the state have extended a warm and heartfelt welcome to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on his visit to the Himalayan state. Amid the celebrations, a unified appeal has been made by the employees to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), replacing the current New Pension Scheme (NPS) for eligible state government workers.
In a joint statement issued by the Joint Forum of Group C & D Government Employees Associations, the employees expressed deep respect for the Prime Minister and urged him to consider the restoration of OPS for all those appointed on or after 1st April 2006. They emphasized that this move would be in line with the constitutional protections provided to Sikkim under Article 371F, which grants the state a special administrative status following its merger with the Indian Union in 1975.
Before the introduction of the NPS, Sikkimese government employees were entitled to a defined pension benefit—offering financial security and dignity in retirement. However, the shift to the NPS has raised concerns among employees, especially those posted in remote and difficult regions, about long-term financial stability post-retirement.
The employees have urged the Central Government to mark this Golden Jubilee year with two significant steps:
Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) under the provisions of Article 371F.
Provision of special central financial assistance to help the state implement OPS in a smooth and sustainable manner.
“The New Pension Scheme has left many of us uncertain about our future,” said a representative of the Joint Forum. “Reinstating the OPS would not only restore trust but also be a symbolic gesture of justice and recognition of the years of dedicated service rendered by public servants.”
The forum expressed hope that Prime Minister Modi would respond to their appeal with empathy and offer a historic decision that aligns with the spirit of Sikkim’s 50th year as a part of the Indian Union
