Need to restore the Old Pension Scheme for eligible employees of Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, Odisha-Laid

Need to restore the Old Pension Scheme for eligible employees of Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, Odisha-Laid SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (CUTTACK): I wish to draw the kind attention of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to the issue of discontinuation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for eligible employees of Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry. SVNIRTAR employees have historically enjoyed pensionary benefits at par with Central Government employees, including GPF-cum-Pension, as provided under its Bye-Laws. At present, 235 retired employees are receiving pensions under Central Government rules. However, due to recent directives issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in November 2024, the Institute has been instructed to stop issuing fresh Pension Payment Orders, affecting 59 employees who were recruited prior to 1 January 2004 and are otherwise fully eligible for OPS. It is pertinent to mention that the Department of Expenditure, in its letter dated 26 December 2024, has clarified the applicability of OPS to regular employees of National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) recruited before the cut-off date. Moreover, several similarly placed autonomous bodies under other Ministries continue to follow OPS. I, therefore, urge upon the Government to intervene and restore the Old Pension Scheme for eligible employees of SVNIRTAR, ensuring fairness, parity, and protection of their legitimate pensionary rights.