Jamshedpur: In a landmark move by the State government, teachers and non-teaching staff of 836 elementary, aided, and minority schools, along with 134 middle schools, will now benefit from the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). A notification to this effect has been issued by Umashankar Singh, Secretary of the School Education and Literacy Department (Secondary Education), following orders from Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Education Minister Ramdas Soren.
This decision reinstates the Old Pension Scheme for employees appointed between December 1, 2004, and August 31, 2022, replacing the Contributory Pension Scheme implemented on December 9, 2004. Beneficiaries now have the choice to remain in either the Old Pension Scheme or the New Contributory Scheme by submitting an affidavit to the department.
The government’s approval of the measure in 2024 was followed by extensive deliberation, leading to the issuance of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The move addresses the long-standing demands of the Minority Teachers Struggle Committee, led by figures such as Father Arensius Minj, Niranjan Sandil, and Prabhat Kumar Singh, who actively engaged with the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and Finance Minister.
The notification ensures that approximately 970 elementary and middle school teachers, along with non-teaching staff, will now receive the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme and provident fund. This development is seen as a major relief for employees who had been advocating for their rights.
Leaders of various committees have expressed their gratitude to the state government. Among them, Prabhat Kumar Singh, Vice President of the Central Committee, along with Basant Kumar Mishra, District President Shashi Bhushan Dubey, and Secretary Nageshwar, commended the government for fulfilling a critical demand of the educational community.
