Kohima: In an unprecedented display of solidarity, government employees across Nagaland have come together, forming a powerful united front to press for crucial reforms in pension, healthcare, and the integrity of civil services. Leaders from various employee federations, including CANSSEA, FONSESA, NSSA, NFASA, NNPSGEF, and AISGEF, voiced their collective discontent at a recent press conference held at the CANSSEA Complex in Kohima, signalling a significant shift in the state’s public sector landscape.
At the heart of their agitation is the fervent demand to scrap the National Pension System (NPS) and reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all government employees appointed after January 1, 2010. “Under OPS, employees are guaranteed a secure retirement with 50% of their last drawn salary as pension. But NPS is a gamble — it’s tied to the ups and downs of the market,” stated Avizo Nienu, President of the Nagaland NPS Government Employees Forum (NNPSGEF). He highlighted that despite employee contributions, there’s no assurance of post-retirement benefits under NPS, leading to financial insecurity and disparity among colleagues. Nienu emphatically stressed that this is a matter of fairness, dignity, and equality, pointing out that eight Indian states have already reverted to OPS, and Nagaland should follow suit as part of a broader national campaign spearheaded by AISGEF.
Beyond the pension plea, the joint federation has tabled five additional critical demands. These include the establishment of a State Pay Commission aligning with the Eighth Central Pay Commission, a comprehensive government-funded health insurance scheme offering cashless treatment for both employees and pensioners, significant infrastructure upgrades for empanelled district hospitals under CMHIS, and the strict enforcement of the March 10, 2025, IAS Cadre Eligibility Criteria without any dilution.
As a symbolic gesture of protest, all government employees in Kohima are set to wear black ribbons in their offices throughout the month of August. Yhunsenlo Kent, General Secretary of CANSSEA, warned that this is merely the “beginning of our collective voice growing louder,” with readiness to escalate if the government fails to respond. Kent confirmed that a core committee delegation would meet the Chief Secretary today to formally submit their five-point charter of demands. “We’ve been patient, but we cannot remain silent when our rights are at stake,” he asserted.
CANSSEA Advisor Dr. Ilang raised grave concerns regarding the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), highlighting that most empanelled hospitals have not accepted CMHIS cards for over six months. He labelled this not just a lapse, but a “betrayal,” underscoring that employees, who constitute the majority of CMHIS cardholders, are being denied basic healthcare and urged immediate government intervention. On the contentious IAS induction issue, B. Imtiwabang Jamir of NSSA issued a stark warning against removing the NPSC clause from eligibility criteria. He emphasised that “civil service leadership must be built on merit, not manipulation,” and that any regularisation or backdoor entry would undermine credibility, urging the government to safeguard meritocracy.
This latest action follows a series of major protests in March 2023, February 2024, and September 2024, with formal representations submitted on August 31, 2023, February 16, 2024, and September 26, 2024. The current movement coincides with a nationwide protest called by AISGEF, amplifying their collective call for justice. When questioned about the course of action if the government does not address their demands, the committee expressed trust in the government acting as a welfare state but were resolute in their stance: “If not, we are ready to take to the streets. Agitation, protest — whatever it takes. We are not asking for favors; we are demanding what is rightfully ours.”
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