Samajwadi Party pledges pension restoration, women's support schemes

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav laid out an ambitious electoral platform during a meeting with the party's legislative delegation and candidates representing teachers and graduates in Lucknow on Wednesday. The announcements represent a significant commitment to welfare measures targeting retirees and women ahead of the next state elections.

Yadav promised to reinstate the old pension scheme, a long-standing demand among government employees who transitioned to the new contributory system. The party also committed to providing annual pensions of ₹40,000 to women beneficiaries and employment assistance grants of ₹2 lakh as part of targeted welfare initiatives.

The proposals form part of the Samajwadi Party's strategy to mobilize key voter constituencies, including education sector workers and women. The pension restoration pledge specifically resonates with retirees who argue the new scheme places greater financial responsibility on individual employees. The employment assistance scheme is aimed at supporting women's economic participation in the state.

These commitments reflect the opposition party's approach to distinguish itself from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2027 contest. The Samajwadi Party has historically championed welfare-oriented policies in Uttar Pradesh and positioned itself as an alternative to the current government's development-focused agenda.