The Old Pension Achievement Morcha handed a memorandum to additional deputy police commissioner (ADC) Rahul Chaba on Thursday to remind the Punjab government of the promise it made during the Punjab assembly elections earlier this year.
Charan Singh Sarabha, one of the union leaders, said, “Prior governments had abolished the old pension scheme before January 2004, and had introduced a new contributory pension scheme. An MLA of Punjab sworn in once is entitled to a pension of Rs. 70,000 per month, while government employees get minimal salaries, and at times this is not enough to pay for medical expenses.”
Tehal Singh, another local union leader, said that no state government minister or leader had ever mentioned the promise.
Punjabi workers will launch a strong protest if the state government fails to restore the old pension scheme in the upcoming budget.
As part of the budget session of the Punjab government, Tehal said the Old Pension Achievement Morcha would hold a protest march in Mohali on June 28.