Thakur rules out revival of old pension scheme

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 26 

Employees and officers who joined government service after May 15, 2003, will continue to get pension under the new Contributory Pension Scheme and the old scheme will not be revived, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the Assembly during Question Hour on Monday.

Replying to a question of Romesh Chand Dhawala (BJP), he said almost all states had adopted the new pension policy as the old scheme entailed a huge financial burden but the government would consider constituting a committee for solving the problems of employees.

In a supplementary question, Dhawala said those who retired at the age of 58 get pension benefits at 60 while Thakur said 60 per cent of the pension benefits would be given after one month of retirement while 40 per cent come as pension. He said officers and employees could withdraw 25 per cent of the pension for wedding of children or other needs after 10 years of service. 

He said a number of employees covered under the new pension scheme had met him but the ground reality was that almost all state governments had opted for the new scheme. 

The lone CPM member Rakesh Singha also pleaded for reviving the old pension scheme and said social security was important and when the government could give pension to MLAs, why not to employees also.

In another question of Parmajeet Singh (BJP), Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar said the government was considering opening of a block development office in every Assembly constituency.