Mon Mar 17 02:55:13 UTC 2025: ## Old Pension Scheme Preferred Over New Alternatives, Says Andhra Leader

**Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh – March 17, 2025** – A. Aja Sarma, general secretary of the Forum for Development of North Andhra (FDNA), has urged employees to reject both the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), advocating instead for the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

Speaking at a seminar organized by the Defence Employees Coordination Committee on Sunday, Mr. Sarma criticized the government’s pension reforms. While acknowledging the UPS as a slight improvement over the NPS, he argued that neither scheme provides adequate retirement security. He accused the central government of prioritizing corporate interests by funneling pension funds into the stock market.

Mr. Sarma emphasized the irreversible nature of choosing either the NPS or UPS, urging employees to fight for the OPS’s restoration. Other speakers at the seminar, including A.V. Thomas, honorary president of the NAD Civilian Employees Union, and Reddy Venkata Rao, chairman of the Defence Employees Coordination Committee, echoed these sentiments. The seminar highlighted growing dissatisfaction among employees regarding the current pension system in Andhra Pradesh.

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