CANSSEA officials and others during press conference in Kohima on July 9. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 9
The Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees Association (CANSSEA) along with FONSESA, NSSA, NFASA, NNPSGEF joined one day national strike under the banner of All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) in Kohima on July 9.
Addressing a press conference here before submission of charter of demands through Nagaland Chief Secretary pertaining to Nagaland state, the CANSSEA and its sister organisations demanded scrapping the National Pension System (NPS) and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all government employees.
Avizo Nienu, President of the Nagaland NPS Government Employees Forum (NNPSGEF), laid out the forum’s position clearly that “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. We contribute, but there’s no assurance of what we’ll receive after retirement.”
He emphasized that employees under NPS are not only financially insecure but are being denied the social safety net enjoyed by their OPS counterparts. “It is about fairness, dignity, and equality. Eight Indian states have already returned to OPS. We demand that Nagaland do the same for the welfare of its employees and future generations,” Nienu said, calling it a people’s movement that is now part of a larger national campaign led by AISGEF.
CANSSEA and others sister organisations demanded the authority to constitute the State Pay Commission to align with the Eighth Central Pay Commission, implementation of a government-backed health insurance scheme with government support ensuring cashless treatment in all hospitals to pensioners and employees including the contractual employees, improve all empanelled district hospitals under CMHIS in the state of Nagaland with better facilities and to implement in toto the eligibility criteria for induction/selection to the IAS cadre of Nagaland as per the vacancy circular NO.PAR-A/08/2025- AIS, Dated Kohima the 10th March 2025.
CANSSEA General Secretary Yhunsenlo Kent said that in the event of the failure of the government to fulfil its demand, all government employees will wear black badge in its next phase of agitation.
“This is just the beginning of our collective voice growing louder. If the government doesn’t respond, we are ready to escalate our protests further,” he said.
He also confirmed that a delegation of core committee members would meet the Chief Secretary today to formally submit the five-point charter of demands.
“We’ve been patient, but we cannot remain silent when our rights are at stake,” Kent added.
CANSSEA advisor Dr Ilang addressed the growing concerns around the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), revealing that a majority of empanelled hospitals have not honoured CMHIS cards for over six months. “This is not just a lapse; it’s a betrayal. We, the employees, are the largest group of CMHIS card holders, yet we are denied basic healthcare. The government must act immediately to ensure full coverage and improve hospital infrastructure,” he appealed.
On the contentious IAS induction issue, B Imtiwabang Jamir of NSSA warned that removing the NPSC clause from the eligibility criteria undermines meritocracy.
“Civil service leadership must be built on merit, not manipulation. Those entering through regularization or other non-transparent means cannot be expected to lead policy-making positions. We urge the government to uphold integrity,” he stated firmly.
When being asked what step it will take if the government turns a deaf ear, Jamir said “We trust that the government will fulfil its role as a welfare state. But if not, we will take to the streets. Agitation, protest whatever it takes. We are not asking for favours; we are asking for what is rightfully ours.”
