Teachers in Baghpat Protest Against UPS Pension Scheme by Wearing Black Armbands

Baghpat 03 September (desk):-In Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, teachers and employees affiliated with the All Teacher Employees Welfare Association (ATEWA) staged a protest against the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) on Monday by wearing black armbands while at work. The protest, led by ATEWA's state president Vijay Kumar Bandhu, is part of a broader statewide campaign to oppose the UPS and demand the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

Subhash Sharma, the district president of ATEWA's Baghpat chapter, explained that the protest will continue from 2nd September to 6th September, with teachers and employees expressing their discontent by wearing black armbands. The organization has outlined a series of events to escalate the protest, culminating in a district-wide demonstration at all district headquarters on 26th September. Sharma emphasized that the UPS is even worse than the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and fails to guarantee the 10 percent contribution deducted from employees' salaries.

The primary grievance of the protesters is that the UPS does not meet the expectations of employees and lacks the benefits provided by the OPS. Teachers and employees have long been demanding the restoration of the OPS, which they believe offers better security and benefits for their retirement. The continued protests highlight the growing dissatisfaction among government employees with the current pension system and their determination to see the OPS reinstated.

As the protest gains momentum, teachers and employees across the state are uniting in their demand for a more secure and fair pension scheme. The outcome of these demonstrations could have significant implications for the future of pension policies in Uttar Pradesh. ATEWA leaders have vowed to continue their fight until the government acknowledges their concerns and takes action to address the shortcomings of the UPS.