Ajaz Kazmi demands restoration of OPS; regularization of daily wagers, Rehber-e-Khel
KD NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, JANUARY 06, 2023: Apni Party today organised a protest demonstration demanding restoration of the Old Age Pension Scheme in the interest of over 4.5 lakhs Govt officers/employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
Led by Apni Trade Union, President J&K, Ajaz Kazmi, and he was accompanied by Apni Party leaders including Additional General Secretary, Arun Chibber, District President/ Provincial Secretary, Dr Rohit Gupta, State Coordinator SC Wing Bodh Raj Bhagat, District President Rural-A, Pushap Dev Uppal, State Vice President OBC Bhagat Ram, State Vice President Youth Wing, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, Provincial President Jammu, Youth Wing, Vipul Bali, Provincial President Trade Wing, Raj Kumar Sharma, Provincial Joint Secretary, Kulwant Singh, District General Secretary, Sardesh Rana, District General Secretary, Deepak Bradoo, District President Trade Wing, Anirudh Vasist, District President Women Wing, Ritu Pandita, Senior Vice President District Youth, Sandeep Vaid, District Secretary Youth Wing, Sumit Bali, Senior Leader Women Wing, Pavneet Kour, and others.
The protest was organised as a protest demonstration outside Press Club of Jammu to support the Govt Officers and Employees seeking the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme which was scrapped by the Govt in 2010.
Addressing the protesters, the Apni Party leaders said that over 4.5 lakhs Govt Officers / Employees were deprived of their constitutional right to enjoy Old Age Pension Scheme and a New Pension Scheme was launched which has no welfare scheme for the Officers/Employees who give their entire life to the Govt and to the people of J&K.
“The Officers/Employees always spend their lives on toes while working in a remote and far-flung area with frequent transfers from one place to another which disturbs their family life and the education of their children. In this process, they were provided with the Old Age Pension Scheme but that scheme was removed and a New Pension Scheme was introduced which is strongly opposed by the Officers/Employees. The Officers/Employees cannot come out openly to oppose the New Pension Scheme due to the strict attitude of the Govt towards them. They are working in a suffocated atmosphere under LG rule,” said Ajaz Kazmi, J&K Apni Trade Union President.
He said that “The Officers/Employees should be provided a friendly working environment as well as safety by re-restoring the Old Pension Scheme.”
He further also demanded regularization, release of pending wages and enhancement of daily wages of 61, 000 daily wagers, Rehber-e-Khel, Anganwari Workers, J&K Home Guards and contractual lecturers.
Meanwhile, other Party leaders also spoke on the occasion shouting slogans in favour of the Govt Officers/Employees. The leaders said that the suffering of the general masses and Govt Officers/employees can be ended by replacing present Govt.
Therefore, assembly elections are a must and the restoration of statehood to J&K is equally important for the people of J&K as they have developed a feeling of alienation, they said.
They warned that if the demands of the Govt Officers/Employees are not addressed, Apni Party will intensify their protest demonstration at the district level across J&K.
