National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) General Secretary M Raghavaiah on Monday demanded the abolition of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Raghavaiah, who was in Mumbai, said the union will continue their fight for railway land in Dharavi. Part of the railway land will be taken over for the Dharavi redevelopment project.

Raghavaiah was speaking at the 239th Central Working Committee meeting of the federation which was held at YMCA Hall in Mumbai Central. Top railway leaders were in attendance at the congregation. 

Prime railway property in Matunga and Mahim, sprawling across 47.5 acres will reportedly be a part of the Dharavi redevelopment project. On the land parcel in Matunga stood residential quarters which will be shifted and a railway siding and a scrapyard in Mahim. 

“It is deplorable that the government has introduced a contributory Pension Scheme presently named National Pension System (NPS) with no guarantee of 50 per cent of last pay drawn as minimum pension while there is no provision for family pension, commutation etc. Railway employees are extremely agitated against it terming it as No Pension Scheme. It has resulted in disappointment and frustration among railway employees,” Raghavaiah said.

Raghavaiah said employees belonging to hundreds of categories in the Indian Railways have been performing their duties with dedication which led to smooth passenger movement of passenger trains the way for record freight movement.

Trade unions and associations representing 28 lakh government employees, including those in the Railways and Central Public Sector Undertakings, and more than three crore state government employees and teachers. The unions are demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which would be replaced by the New Pension Scheme (NPS). 

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