In an effort to ensure that railway employees make informed decisions about their pension options, the Railway Ministry has directed all 17 zonal railways to take urgent steps to improve communication regarding the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
In a circular dated May 21, the ministry stressed the importance of clear and widespread dissemination of information about the scheme. The communication, sent to all Principal Chief Personnel Officers, called for immediate and proactive measures to ensure employees fully understand their options under the UPS.
“It is essential that employees are well-informed and supported in making their decisions,” the ministry noted in its letter.
The Union government has introduced the Unified Pension Scheme as an alternative to the existing New Pension Scheme (NPS), offering current employees the option to choose between the two.
To facilitate this process, the Railway Ministry has asked zonal offices to organise facilitation camps across various locations. These camps are to be staffed with personnel from human resources, finance, and other subject matter experts to guide employees, address their concerns, and help with the registration process.
“These camps should serve as a platform for employees to seek guidance, clarify doubts and complete their registration process with ease,” the ministry stated.
In addition, the ministry has instructed officials to keep detailed records of each facilitation camp, including the date, location, number of attendees, and the number of registrations completed.
The move underscores the ministry’s intent to provide full support to its workforce as they navigate this important shift in pension policy.