These days, discussions are hot among Indian central employees and former employees regarding the 8th Pay Commission. This big question and fear is troubling the minds of millions of pensioners across the country whether after the implementation of the recommendations of the upcoming Pay Commission, their old pension system will be closed or there will be a huge cut in it. For the last few days, many such claims are becoming increasingly viral on social media platforms and messaging apps, in which it is being said that the government will provide pension benefits only to the employees retiring after the year 2026 and the facilities of old pensioners will be completely abolished. Such misleading and fabricated news has suddenly increased the anxiety of elderly pensioners and their families, as everyone is extremely sensitive about their financial support in their old age. People are constantly trying to know what is the truth behind these viral messages and whether the government is really going to take such a drastic step. All these speculations and rumors spreading in the market have now come to an end, because the largest representative organization of the employees has officially clarified its position on this.
NC-JCM Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra dismissed all rumors of pension being stopped.
Taking strong cognizance of all these fabricated and scary news going viral on social media, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Staff Side Secretary of National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has issued an official statement on this. He has completely rejected all the news circulating on social media in which it was being claimed that after the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission, the pension of old retired employees will be completely stopped. Shiv Gopal Mishra has said in clear words that there is not even an iota of truth in these viral messages and they are being spread only with the aim of spreading fear and confusion among the people. Releasing a video message, he has appealed to all the pensioners of the country not to believe such baseless and false things at all. According to him, ever since the process of Eighth Pay Commission has started, some people with vested interests and fake social media channels have been spreading such misleading information, which has nothing to do with reality.
Will only those retiring after 2026 get the benefit of pension amendment?
One of the main claims being made in the messages going viral was that the benefit of pension and its amendments will be available only to those employees who will retire after completing their government service in the year 2026 or later, whereas all the pensioners before that will be excluded from this purview. Clarifying this misconception, NC-JCM leader Shiv Gopal Mishra has stressed that this claim is completely wrong and baseless. He clarified that in the Pay Commission process, both the already retired pensioners and the new employees who are going to retire in future are equally important. There is no such proposal under consideration by the government or the commission that would take away the rights of old pensioners or affect their financial security. On the contrary, employee organizations have always demanded that pensioners, both old and new, should get better financial benefits commensurate with inflation over time, so that they can lead a dignified life.
What major issues are being discussed seriously for pensioners under the Pay Commission?
Within the ambit of the Eighth Pay Commission, not only the new pay scale and fitment factor are being discussed, but serious discussions are also going on within the Commission on many other important issues related to former employees and pensioners. Employees' organizations and bodies like Bharat Pensioners' Society have put forward several practical suggestions before the Commission, including the major demand of reducing the period of restoration of commuted pension from 15 years to 11 or 12 years. Organizations argue that it is very important to review the old rules keeping in mind the changes that have taken place in the current economic conditions, interest rates and average life expectancy. The main objective of all these meetings and discussions is to further improve the standard of living of crores of pensioners of the country, and not to stop or reduce their pension in any form. Therefore, any kind of policy change is officially confirmed only by the government or authorized forums.
Strict advice to pensioners to beware of fake news on social media
In today's digital era, it does not take much time for any incomplete or fake news to go viral, and many times people believe such news without knowing the truth. The leadership of NC-JCM has clearly stated that they have no authority or means to directly stop many such social media handles or channels which increase their TRP or views by spreading such sensational and misleading news. This is why all pensioners need to be extremely cautious. It has been instructed by the union that pensioners should not blindly trust any unauthorized social media message, forwarded WhatsApp message or unverified YouTube video. Whenever any new update or rule is issued by the government or official employee organizations, it will be informed through mainstream media and official channels. Therefore, pensioners should be completely rest assured, their pension is neither going to be stopped nor is the government going to take any such decision against their interests.