Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS): NFIR

Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS): NFIR

No. IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL / Part I

Dated : 11/12/2017

Shri Piyush Goyal,
Hon'ble Minister of Railways,
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Sub : Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) - reg.

Ref (i) Hon'ble MR's D.O. No. 2012/F(E)III/1/4-Pt dated 29th March 2014 to Hon'ble Finance Minister, Government of India.
(ii) Hon'ble MR's D.O. No. 2012/F(E)III/1/1/4-Pt dated 20th Nov 2015 to the Hon'ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely.
(iii) NFIR's letter No. IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL Part I dated 13th Feb.2017 & 26th Oct. 2017.

While enclosing copy of NFIR's letter sent to you vide dated 26th Oct, 2017, I request you to kindly make special efforts at the level of the Government as well by reaching Hon’ble Prime Minister for the purpose of exempting Railways from the National Pension System (NPS). I also desire to bring to your kind notice that your predecessors Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Shri Suresh Prabhu have already sent proposals to the Government of India (Ministry of Finance) highlighting the uniqueness of Railways working and the necessity to exempt Railways from the NPS.

I trust that you would do the needful for obtaining favourable decision which would motivate all sections of Railway employees to work with grater determination and commitment for providing efficient services.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

S/d,
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

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No.IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL/Part 1

Dated : 26 Oct,2017

Shri Piyush Goyal,
Ho'ble Minister of Railways,
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Sub: Exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) - reg.

Ref:  (i)    Hon'ble MR's D.O. No. 2012/F(E)111/1/4-Pt dated 29th March 2014 to Hon'ble Finance

Minister, Government of India.

(ii)           Hon'ble MR's D.O. No. 2012/F(E)111/1/1/4-Pt dated 20th Nov 2015 to the Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely.

(iii)          NF1R’s letter No. IV/NPSIPFRDA BILL/Part I dated 13th Feb, 2017.

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Federation invites kind attention of the Hon'ble AIR relating to exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS), which was agreed upon by the Railway Ministry, consequently the Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu bad sent proposal to the Hon'ble Finance Minister vide letter No. 2012/F(E)III/1/1/4-Pt dated 20th November, 2015, seeking Government's approval to exempt Railways from New Pension Scheme (NPS) now called "National Pension System". Shri Mallikarjun Kharge then Railway Minister had also urged upon the Government to exempt Railways from New Pension Scheme (letter No. 2012/F(E)III/1/4-Pt dated 29th March 2014).

In this connection, NFIR desires to reiterate that Pension is very sensitive issue so far as Railways is concerned, due to the reason that the Railway employees have been working at remote places, stations located in jungle areas and have been facing all odds foregoing basic necessities of life, similar to the Defence Forces Personnel, safeguarding the Nation's Borders, and are involved fully in ensuring uninterrupted flow of Railway Traffic. The Railway employees in their day-to-day working face war like situations to ensure that movement of trains is not adversely affected under any circumstances and in the process they get killed on duty as confirmed by the High Level Safety Review Committee (BLSRC) headed by Shri Anil Kakodkar (Chapter 11-2.3).

NFIR, therefore urges upon you to kindly reach the Hon'ble Prime Minister and apprise the Railways unique nature of working as already highlighted by previous Railway Ministers and impress the need for granting exemption of Railways from the New Pension Scheme to enable those Railway employees appointed from January, 2004 get covered by the Liberalized Pension Scheme for receiving guaranteed Pension. Federation strongly believes that your kind intervention and Ell&WS-fivi: with the Hon'ble Prime Minister would result positive decision for exempting Railways from New Pension Scheme soon.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,/

S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source : NFIR