In an announcement with far reaching consequences, PeoplesUnited Front Spokesman today said that if elected, the PUF Government willscrap the New Pension Scheme and strengthen the social security net for stategovernment employees and members of three All India Services, IAS, IPS and IPS,posted to J&K. As per the NPS, employee contribution from salary is matchedby an equal contribution by the Government and at the end of the service theemployee gets pension from this fund which is managed by a central pension fundauthority.However, over the years there has been a serious lack of clarity asto the amount and duration of pension employees will get in future and employeeassociations have been complaining that NPS has compromised their socialsecurity.

Peoples United Front Spokesman asserted that thousands ofemployees appointed after 2010 have approached the party with the request totake steps for revocation of NPS in its current format.

"It was in this backdrop and after detailedconsultations with employee associations that PUF decided to take a stand onthis and the step is expected to give hope of safe future to thousands ofemployees who are giving their best for the welfare of this state", thestatement reads.

Not only the state government employees but members of AllIndia Services also who are serving in J&K will be benefitting with thisinitiative. All India Services pay rules are there but it's the stategovernment which pays their salaries so a mechanism will have to be found toensure at-par treatment.

Officers from outside the state have often complained aboutlack of proper housing and education facilities for their families in the stateand this needs to be addressed.

It will bring back the dignity to government service andraise the morale of government employees", the spokesman said.

"We have to create more jobs in private sector. But wecant make the government sector less attractive by denying the social securityto employees. Pension has to be there. If we want youth to prefer privatesector because of dearth of jobs in government service, we have to first createadequate employment opportunities there", added the spokesperson.

"J&K has not seen adequate industrial developmentand private sector investment over the years. Government is therefore thebiggest employer. But when SRO 202 was brought in it was a serious injusticewith youth who wanted to get government employment. There are better ways offiscal prudence than denying the educated youth their right to dignifiedlivelihood and cutting their salaries below the minimum wage and taking awaythe pension. Scrapping SRO 202 will be a part of this dignity initiative"reads the statement.

PUF will massively focus on 'livelihoods' for all to tacklethe rising unemployment and give social economic and political justice topeople of J&K. (KNS)