Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said on Saturday that the state government is committed to implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees and that a decision is expected soon after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking at a Teachers’ Day event in Tumakuru, Parameshwara said the government had discussed restoring the old pension system after requests from teachers’ organisations. He said the demand had been raised during the 2023 Assembly election campaign and was subsequently included in the government’s manifesto.
According to the deputy chief minister, the decision had been delayed for about three years for various reasons. He said an order would be issued shortly and that the government had decided to proceed despite financial constraints. The report did not provide a specific date for the proposed order or details of its financial impact.
Parameshwara also said the government plans to distribute free residential sites measuring 30 by 40 feet to 1.5 million beneficiaries by December. He was speaking at the launch of the ‘Praja Seva’ campaign organised by the taluk administration in Gubbi, Tumakuru district.
Under the plan, between 4,000 and 5,000 sites are expected to be distributed in each taluk. The deputy chief minister said officials had been instructed to identify at least 50,000 sites in each district. Beneficiaries will be selected through meetings involving gram sabhas and legislators, after which financial assistance for house construction will be provided, he said.
The announcements concern two separate government commitments: a proposed change to the pension system for state employees and the identification and allocation of residential plots. Further details on eligibility, funding, implementation agencies and timelines were not specified in the report. The next formal step on the pension issue will be the state government’s decision and any subsequent order.
