"AIRF/NFRMU Demand OPS at Siliguri"

Report by Kona Vishnu, Coordinator International Affairs, AIRF, India 

& Coordinator Social Media, AIRF, India.

    North Frontier Railway Mazdoor Union (NFRMU) an affiliate of All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) in its Centenary year conducted the Working Committee Meeting at Siliguri a beautiful city of North East India at the foot hills of Himalayas from 06th to 08th July 2023.

  Com Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF & NRMU (NR) and Convener, Joint Forum for Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (JFROPS) was the special invitee on the occasion.

    Com Shiva Gopal Mishra speaking and interacting with the already charged environment spoke at the length the strategic importance of and role of Indian Railways right from pre-independence era. He said that Indian Railway workers team work keeps the nation moving forward 24/7. Not many are aware of the role of Indian Railways in transshipment of defence equipment to the border areas, thus Indian Railways works on par with the defence personnel. 

      Despite all the hard work, the workers joined on Indian Railways and Central Government organizations after 01 January 2004 were compelled to join under National Pension Scheme (NPS). Some beneficiaries of NPS who had recently retired received a paltry pension of Rs 1500/- per month, which by no means is sufficient to lead a dignified life post retirement. Thus Com Mishra said "We Demand The Government to restore of Dignity i.e., Guaranteed Old Defined Pension Scheme (OPS), which promises 50% of the last drawn pay with dearness allowance every six months". The crowd cheered with slogans "NPS Go Back, We Want OPS". "Mishra Ji Aage Badho Hum aapke saath hain". 

       Concluding his speech Com Shiva Gopal Mishra asked everyone present to attend the "March to Parliament" on 10 August 2023 and serve an ultimatum to the Government that failure to grant OPS will lead to "All India Strike".

    Others present on the occasion were Com Amit Ghosh GS/ERMU, Col. Shubhendu Kr. Choudhury DRM/ KIR attended as Chief guest, Com. Dilip Kumar Chakravarty President/ NFRMU, Com. Ashish Biswas GS/NFRMU, Com. M. R. Sarkar Treasurer/NFRMU, Com. Piyush Chakraborty ZS/AIRF, Com. Kanak Ch. Barman WP/ NFRMU, Com. Nakibur Zaman VP/NFRMU, COM. P. K. Dhar VP/ NFRMU, Com. Mrinal Kt Seal VP/ NFRMU, Com. Dipak Kr. Sarkar, Com. Samir Kt. Chakraborty Jt. GS/ NFRMU, Com. Suhash Das Jt. GS/NFRMU, Com. Poritosh Paul Jt.GS/ NFRMU, Com. Uttam Kr. Bhattacharyya Jt. GS/NFRMU, Com. Rajib Kar Social Media Co-ordinator/ NFRMU & other Central Office Bearers, Divisional Secretaries and all Branch Secretaries & Treasurer of 53 Branches.

        Special Thanks were Conveyed to the Siliguri Branch, NFRMU for organising the meeting and making all the arrangements.