Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Nov 18: "Karnataka state government NPS employees union has planned indefinite protests at Bengaluru Freedom Park on December 19 opposing the new pension scheme of the government. A peaceful rally will be held as a prelude to it from Indrali Petrol bunk to Rajathadri deputy commissioner’s office on November 23 and an appeal will be submitted to the government through the deputy commissioner," said Raghava Shetty, president of the district employees union in a press conference.

"It will be difficult for government employees and their families who have served in the government service for the period of between 35 years and 40 years to run their families with the new pension scheme. The old pension scheme should be implemented for a comfortable life. The government at the centre instead of making that scheme mandatory has asked the respective states to implement it considering the pros and cons. The governments of Punjab, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh have withdrawn the new scheme and have re implemented the old scheme. West Bengal has not implemented the new scheme at all so far. The new scheme should be given up in our state and the old scheme should be implemented," he said.

Nearly 3,200 people including NPS, OPS employees and their families will participate in the peaceful protests. As many as 80 departments of the state government have supported the protests, he said.

"Appeals were made to the government through protests several times but the government has not taken any action. Therefore, indefinite protests will be held at Freedom Park, Bengaluru this time. The protests will be continued if the government fails to act. Nearly 6,000 employees from the district will participate in the protests at Freedom Park," he said.

Harish Kumar Shetty, taluk president of NPS Employees' Union Kundapur, Santhosh Kumar Shetty, taluk president of NPS Employees' Union Karkala and Ramachandra Vakude, district secretary NPS employees union were present in the news conference.