Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS)
No.IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL/Part-I
Dated: 13th Feb 2017
Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Ho’ble Minister for Railwavs.
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir,
Sub: Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) – reg.
Ref: Hon’ble MR’s Letter No.2012/F(E)III/1/1/4-Pt dated 20th Nov 2015 to the Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely on the above subject.
During discussions on 7th Feb 2017,I have brought to your kind notice the issues agreed upon by the Railway Board but not implemented till date on some pretext or the other. You have been kind enough to assure to take appropriate action and advise CRB to take steps for implementation. NFIR is confident that you would see that the agreements reached with Federations are respected by Railway Board and implemented soon.
With regard to Exemption of Railways from NPS, I invite your kind attention to your letter No.2012/F(E)III/1/1/4-Pt dated 20th Nov 2015 to the Hon’ble Finance Minister that Railways be elempted from the NPS. Your predecessor Shri Mallikarjun Kharge had also sent communication on 29th March 20l4 but however, the Govemment have not agreed to the proposals of Hon’ble MRs.
Pension is very sensitive issue so far as Railways is concerned as the Railway employees are working at remote places, jungle stations facing all odds akin to those of Defence forces safeguarding the borders of the Country and running trains unintemrptedly. You would kindly appreciate that Railway employees face war like situation in their day-to-day working as they are expected to ensure movement of trains under all adverse conditions. Rightly, you have sent communication to the Hon’ble Finance Minister to consider exempting Railways from NPS.
NFIR therefore requests you to kindly reach Hon’ble Prime Minister and impress upon him the need to grant exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme, considering the unique role of Rail workforce and complexities of the system. Federation trusts that your personal intervention and meeting with the Hon’ble Prime Minister may yield positive result.
With regards,
Yours sincerely
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary