Teachers and Employees Express Resentment in Almora
Almora. A hunger strike demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) was organized under the banner of the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS) Uttarakhand on Friday. The program was held at Hargovind Hospital Almora and Chaughanpata Almora.
At the protest site, District President Ganesh Bhandari, Secretary Bhupal Chilwal, and Provincial Core Committee member Dhirendra Kumar Pathak addressed the gathering. They declared that the movement for restoring OPS would continue until the demand is fulfilled. They alleged that political leaders in government are themselves availing old pension benefits, while teachers and employees are being deprived of it, creating deep resentment among the workforce.
The hunger strike saw the participation of a large number of teachers, employees, and representatives of various associations. Prominent among them were Meenu Bhatt, Himani Pandey, Chandra Arya, Sunita, Savita, Mamta, Pharmacist Association District President D.K. Joshi, District Minister Rajneesh Joshi, NMOPS Havalbagh Block Patron Sanjay Joshi, Block Minister Raju Latwal, Gajendra Bisht, District Media In-charge Nitesh Kandpal, Virendra Sijwali, Narendra Pal Singh, Brijesh Dashila, Khushal Mehar, Suresh Verma, Kundan Jeevan Shah Bisht, Hukam Singh Paliyal, Rajendra Khadayat and others.
On this occasion, District President Ganesh Bhandari reiterated that the agitation will continue until OPS is reinstated. He announced that on October 1, teachers and employees across the state will launch a social media awareness campaign, while on November 25, a massive protest will be held in Delhi.
Provincial Core Committee members Dhirendra Kumar Pathak and D.K. Joshi emphasized that the Old Pension Scheme is not only about financial security but also essential for preserving social values and structure. They questioned why teachers and employees are denied OPS when the Chief Minister, MLAs, and even the Prime Minister continue to enjoy its benefits.
The hunger strike concluded peacefully but with a clear warning from the participants that if their demands are not addressed seriously, the movement will intensify further in the coming days.
