Power Engineers Demand Return of Old Pension System

SHIMLA, July 17, 2024 : The Himachal Power Engineers' Association (HPEA) has urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to reinstate the old pension system for all employees and engineers working with HPSEB.

In a letter penned by HPEA President Lokesh Thakur, the association called for a uniform pension scheme, stating that the abolition of the old pension system was done unilaterally when energy corporations were restructured.

Lokesh Thakur said that employees hired after the unbundling of the Electricity Board were shifted to the National Pension System (NPS) without a clear mandate from the Electricity Act 2003, which does not mention the exclusion of these employees from the old pension scheme.

This lack of uniformity has led to inconsistencies, with some departments using the old pension system (OPS) and others using NPS.

Thakur pointed out that states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand have recently reintroduced OPS for their energy sector employees.

He also noted that the Central Government is considering changes to the pension system for its employees under NPS, which could lead to significant disparities if a uniform system is not adopted in Himachal Pradesh.

The letter stated the need for the State Government to instruct HPSEBL to implement the old pension system uniformly for all its power employees and engin

"To bring consistency across all departments, it is essential that the old pension system be reinstated," stated Thakur.