Tahir Sofi, JKTF General Secretary and EJAC Vice President, urges the Jammu and Kashmir government to consider restoring the Old Pension Scheme. (Img: Dynamite News)
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) General Secretary and Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Vice President Tahir Sofi has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to prioritise the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS), renewing the demand for retirement security among government employees.
Sofi appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to address the long-pending demand, arguing that teachers who dedicate their professional lives to educating students and shaping future generations deserve financial security, dignity and peace of mind after retirement.
The demand brings the pension debate back into focus in Jammu and Kashmir, where employee representatives have been seeking changes to the existing retirement benefit framework. At the centre of the issue is the question of how government employees can secure a predictable source of income after completing decades of public service.
Emphasising the role of teachers in nation-building, Sofi maintained that strengthening the education sector must go beyond classroom infrastructure, academic outcomes and recruitment. He said the welfare, working conditions and long-term financial security of educators must also receive serious consideration in government policy.
He urged Omar Abdullah and Sakina Itoo to engage with the concerns of employees covered under NPS and take concrete steps towards fulfilling the demand for restoring OPS. According to Sofi, teachers devote their working years to shaping the future of students and contributing to society, making retirement security an important component of their overall welfare.
The JKTF leader argued that education and teachers should receive priority in policy decisions, adding that unresolved pension concerns can create uncertainty among employees approaching the end of their service.
Sofi also highlighted the financial pressures that retired employees may face after leaving government service. He said pension benefits play an important role in helping former employees meet household expenses, support family members and manage their financial responsibilities during retirement.
He maintained that employees were seeking the restoration of what they consider a legitimate entitlement after years of public service, rather than making an unreasonable demand. He called on the government to understand their concerns and work towards a resolution that provides greater financial stability to employees and their families.
The demand reflects a broader debate over retirement planning and pension adequacy. While pension arrangements are designed to provide income after retirement, employees and their representatives continue to debate which framework offers greater predictability and financial protection in the long term.
Sofi urged the Omar Abdullah-led administration to initiate meaningful discussions with employee representatives and give due consideration to the demand for restoring the Old Pension Scheme. He indicated that sustained engagement between the government and employee organisations would be important in addressing concerns and finding a way forward.
He also stressed that efforts to improve Jammu and Kashmir’s education system should take into account the legitimate welfare concerns of teachers and other government employees. According to the JKTF leader, educational reform and employee welfare should be treated as complementary priorities.
The appeal places responsibility on the government to examine the concerns raised by employee organisations and clarify its position on the long-pending pension demand. Any decision on restoring OPS would require consideration of the applicable service rules, pension policy and financial implications.
For now, Sofi has called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo to give the issue priority and engage with employees over their demand for retirement security. The key question remains whether the government will initiate substantive dialogue and outline a response to the call for restoring OPS for NPS-covered employees in Jammu and Kashmir.
