Jammu, April 1, 2025: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS) Tuesday observed a Black Day as a symbolic protest against the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and the National Pension Scheme (NPS) across the region.
The protest, called by NMOPS National President Vijay Kumar Bandhu, received support from the J&K Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) and various employee associations. Protesters, while on duty, wore black ribbons to symbolize their discontent with the NPS/UPS and demanded its withdrawal.
“We urge Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to fulfill his election manifesto promise and reinstate the old pension scheme,” said Mohd Ashraf Sheikh, State President of NMOPS-J&K.
Pawanjeet Kour, President of GMC Employees Association Jammu, also participated in the protest, appealing to the Chief Minister to reinstate the old pension scheme for ensuring post-retirement security.
Mir Bashir Ahmad, UT Chief Advisor of NMOPS-J&K, criticized the NPS/UPS, calling it a “grave injustice” to government employees. “We demand immediate restoration of the old pension scheme to secure financial stability for retired employees and their families,” he stated.
Echoing similar sentiments, Anjum Nasir, UT Spokesperson of NMOPS-J&K, said, “This is not just a demand but a necessity to uphold the dignity of employees post-retirement. Our struggle will continue until justice is served.”
An official spokesperson said several senior leaders and district presidents joined the protest, including Hilal Ahmed Baba (Chairman), Dr. Karamjeet Singh (Deputy General Secretary), Mir Bashir Ahmed (UT Chief Advisor), Neetan Kalyan (UT Additional General Secretary), Raman Kumar Sharma (UT Treasurer), Amar Mooman (UT Chief Organizer), Tarun Gupta (Provincial President Jammu), Anjum Nasir (UT Spokesperson), Vikee Pandita (UT Media Secretary), Jalil Ahmed (UT Convenor), Harpreet Kour (UT Secretary), Amarjeet Singh (Provincial General Secretary), Rail Singh (Provincial Coordinator).
Additionally, district presidents, including Dr. Syed Nusrat Shah, Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Sartaj Ahmed, Farooq Kuty, Hilal Ahmed, Sanjay Sharma, Irfan Ahmed, Saleem Kawa, Shakeel Ahmed, Sushil Kumar Sharma, Tariq Amin Naik, and Sandeep Bhat, led protests at the district level.
At the end of the protest, NMOPS-J&K submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through various offices, urging the reinstatement of the old pension scheme.
