8th Pay Commission: Central government employees and pensioners nationwide are looking forward to the 8th Pay Commission. In the meantime, the Railway Senior Citizens Welfare Society (RSCWS) has presented a comprehensive memorandum to the commission, requesting several significant changes.
Interestingly, this time the emphasis is not solely on salary hikes. The organization insists that the 8th Pay Commission should address the issues faced by pensioners with the same level of seriousness as it does for employees’ salaries.
Call for a system akin to OROP
One of the RSCWS’s urgent requests is for the implementation of a system similar to “One Rank, One Pension” for pensioners. The organization contends that employees of the same rank and with comparable lengths of service should not receive differing pensions merely based on their retirement dates. The memorandum highlights that pensioners’ earnings do not keep pace with inflation. Thus, it advocates for a pension revision system that automatically adjusts to reflect inflation periodically.
There is also a call for the restoration of OPS
The Railway Pensioners’ Association has reiterated its plea for the reinstatement of the old pension system, deeming it the most secure model. They argue that a guaranteed pension is crucial for ensuring financial stability post-retirement. Under the current framework, the additional pension benefit kicks in at age 80. The RSCWS suggests that this benefit should commence at age 70, as medical and care expenses tend to rise significantly after this age.
Demand for major improvements in medical facilities
The organisation has also demanded improvement in health services like Railways and CGHS, expansion of cashless treatment, increase in medical allowance and strengthening of health facilities in remote areas.
Why is this memorandum important?
The 8th Pay Commission is currently taking suggestions from various employee organizations, unions, and pensioners’ associations. The Commission has extended the deadline for submitting memorandums to June 15, 2026. Therefore, the demands of various organizations may influence the Commission’s final recommendations.