Old Pension Front to hold rally in Sangrur tomorrow

The “Old Pension, Allowances and Scales Restoration Front Punjab” has completed all preparations for the rally to be held on February 15 in Sangrur, the hometown of the Chief Minister.

Providing this information, Doaba zone convener of the Old Pension Front Inder Sukhdeep Singh Odhra, district president Manjit Singh Dasuya, state leader of the Democratic Teachers Front Mukesh Gujarati, district president Sukhdev Dansewal, and 4161 Teachers’ Union State president Sandeep Gill along with General Secretary Balkar Singh Maghania stated that the pay scales introduced by the Punjab government for employees recruited after July 2020 are causing significant financial losses to employees.

They said the new pay scales are neither in line with the previous Punjab scales nor equivalent to those of the central government. They also alleged that the notification issued in 2022 regarding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme has not been implemented.

The leaders further stated that 37 types of allowances, including the rural allowance, which were discontinued by the Punjab government, have not been restored. Additionally, employees in Punjab are receiving 16 per cent less Dearness Allowance compared to the central government and neighbouring states, resulting in a monthly financial loss of thousands of rupees.

They also pointed out that the four-year proficiency increments granted after 4, 9, and 14 years of service have been stopped, and the arrears recommended by the Pay Commission have not been released.

All preparations for the rally aimed at resolving these financial demands have been completed, and employees from every department across Punjab are expected to participate in large numbers.