Haryana's Pension Battle: BJP Plays UPS Card

The Haryana Story brings you the latest development in the state's political landscape as pension schemes become a hot topic ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Former Chief Minister and current Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has made a significant move to woo government employees by hinting at the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) if the BJP wins a third term in Haryana. 

This announcement comes as a strategic move to counter the Congress party's promise of restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in the state. The pension debate has become a crucial issue, with about 2.5 lakh government employees in Haryana, many of whom have been protesting for the reinstatement of OPS for over a year.

The UPS, recently approved by the Modi government, is set to be implemented from April 1, 2025. It aims to provide a middle ground between the New Pension Scheme (NPS) introduced in 2004 and the OPS that was in place before that. Under UPS, employees will contribute 10% of their basic pay and dearness allowance to the pension fund, while the government will contribute 18.5%. 

However, some key differences between UPS and OPS have led to mixed reactions from employees:

1. UPS requires 25 years of service for pension eligibility, compared to 20 years under OPS. 

2. The pension calculation method differs, with UPS using an average of the last 12 months' salary instead of the last drawn salary in OPS. 

3. UPS does not include provisions for medical benefits and dearness allowance adjustments.

The BJP's move to support UPS comes after the party faced defeat in neighboring Himachal Pradesh, where OPS was a major election issue. With 40,000 Haryana residents working in central government jobs, the BJP hopes to create a favorable atmosphere for UPS in the state. 

Meanwhile, employee unions in Haryana continue to demand the restoration of OPS. Vijender Dhariwal, the state president of the Pension Restoration Struggle Committee, has stated that their movement will continue until OPS is fully reinstated.

Adding weight to the UPS debate, Haryana's senior IAS officer Dr. Ashok Khemka has publicly supported the scheme on social media. He expressed hope that states would implement UPS without delay, viewing it as a relief for central government employees who joined after 2004. 

As the election approaches, both major parties are focusing on the pension issue to gain support from government employees. The outcome of this debate could significantly influence the voting patterns in the upcoming Haryana assembly elections.

The Haryana Story will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates on how the pension debate shapes the political landscape in the state.