Vizianagaram, March 28: Leaders of APNGOs’ Association, United Teachers’ Federation, BSNL Employees’ Union, United Medical and Health Employees’ Union, and other unions affiliated to AITUC and CITU have demanded withdrawal of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill which was passed in Parliament on March 24 by the UPA government as it is against the interests of State and Central government employees and also pensioners.
At the round-table on Sunday, CITU district president M. Srinivasa said that the objective of the Bill was to privatise pension fund and the decision to release pension in future would depend on market forces. As part of economic reforms, the new pension scheme was introduced on January 1, 2004 for new recruits. He said that the UPA government was trying to shirk its social responsibility.
V. Rajagopal, president of APNGOs Association, said that an ordinance proposed by the NDA government in 2003 was put on hold following stiff opposition from trade unions. However, the implementation of the ordinance was left to the discretion of respective State governments. Now, the UPA with the support of the BJP passed the PFRDA Bill.
The unions decided to stage protest demonstrations at the Head Post Office on March 30 to demand withdrawal of the Bill. V. Krishnam Raju (AITUC), D. Ramu (UTF), S. Laksmana Rao (medical and health), A.B.K. Ramesh (BSNL), G. Appalasuri (electricity), and P. Papayya (postal) spoke.
–Agencies