KHARAGPUR : The South Eastern Railway Labor Union has raised its voice against the new pension system. Patron of South Eastern Railway Labor Union Prahlad Singh, General Secretary Balwant Singh, Zonal Vice President Manish Chandra Jha, Factory Secretary PK Kundu and other officials have issued a joint statement demanding the government to abolish the new pension system with immediate effect.
General Secretary Balwant Singh has urged the government to consider restoring the old pension system. Along with this, it was also warned that if this is not considered, then the agitation will continue further and if necessary, the railway wheel will also be jammed.
Zonal Vice President Manish Chandra Jha underlined the anomalies of the new pension system. Retired employees get Rs 800 to Rs 2400 due to non-provision of minimum pension in the new pension system, while at present the provision of minimum pension in the old pension system is Rs 9000. This discrepancy has a detrimental effect on the social security of the retired employee.
Factory Secretary P.K. Kundu told both the federation NFIR and AIRF responsible for implementing the new pension system. From the year 2004 till now, both these federations keep on fooling the laborers by talking only in the air.
It may be noted that in the year 2020, the South Eastern Railway Labor Union had launched a signature campaign against the new pension system. After signing about thirty thousand employees, it was sent to the Ministry of Railways by the then General Manager. In protest against the new pension system, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh organized an All India General Assembly on 17 November 2022 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and labor unions from all over India participated in it.