EVER SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS (JNVS),DURING THE YEAR 1985-86, THE STAFF OF NAVODAYA VIDYALA SAMITI ,BOTH THE TEACHING AND NON TEACHING ,HAS BEEN RENDERING UNPARALLELED SERVICES.AS A RESULT OF THE DEDICATED SERVICES OF THE STAFF,TODAY JNVs ARE THE 1st AMONG THE cbse AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS.THE STAFF OF THE VIDYALAYAS IS NURTURING AND SHAPING THE RURAL CHILDREN,WHO BELONG TO THE WEAKER SECTIONS OF THE SOCIETY.IT HAS BEEN PROVED BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT JNVs FUNCTIONING IN RURAL AREAS ARE IN NO WAY INFERIOR TO THE CORPORATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LOCATED IN CITIES.THE CREDIT GOES TO THE STAFF OF THE VIDYALAYAS FOR GETTING DUE RECOGNITION FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THE MOMENTOUS SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE ONLY DUE TO THE DEVOTED SERVICES OF THE STAFF .THE STAFF WORKS FOR ABOUT (18)HOURS A DAY.THEY SHARE THE PROBLEMS OF STUDENTS BY SPENDING A LOT OF THEIR TIME WITH THEM IN RESIDENTIAL SET-UP.IN FACT,STAFF IS PROVIDING PARENTAL AFFECTION TO THE STUDENTS.SELFLESS SERVICE HAS BEEN THE MOTTO.NO SUNDAYS ,NO FESTIVALS AND NO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS .THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE STAFF HAS IGNORED THEIR OWN PERSONAL/DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES ,HOWSo EVER IMPORTANT THEY MAY BE.IF THE STAFF HAD NOT WORKED WITH THE MISSIONARY ZEAL,THESE RESULTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
IN SPITE OF THE DEDICATED SERVICES OF THE STAFF,IT IS NOT SPARED OF SOME HUMILATING TREATMENT BY THE AUTHORITIES INDISCRIMINATE TRANSFERS TO DISTANT PLACES AND HARASSMENT.NO ADEQUATE PROMOTIONAL AVENUES FOR THE TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING STAFF.
THE ALL NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI STAFF ASSOCIATION THAT HAD BEEN DORMANT SINCE 1994 WAS REJUVENATED DURING 2005-06 .THE 3rd NATIONAL CONVENTION WAS HELD AT HYDERABAD ON 22-01-2006.THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE TO THE CONVENTION . MORE THAN (650) DELEGATES FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN IT. THE HYDERABAD CONVENTION WAS AN EYE-OPENER TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OFFICIALS.SINCE THEN THE ANVSSA HAS BEEN MAKING REPRESENTATIONS ON THE JUST AND LEGITIMATE DEMANDS OF THE STAFF.
AS A RESULT OF THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF THE ANVSSA, THE NVS ISSUED CERTAIN FAVOURABLE ORDERS AND INCENTIVES TO THE STAFF IN THE RECENT PAST.
ACHIVEMENTS- HOUSE MASTER AND ASSOCIATE HOUSE MASTER’S ALLOWANCES ENHANCED.
- WEEKLY OFF TO MESS WORKERS INCLUDING CATERING ASST.., GRANTED
- SCRUTINY CHARGES IN RESPECT OF JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SELECTION TEST APPLICATIONS INCREASED FROM 0-30 PAISE TO RE 1/-
- POST GRADUATE TEACHER POST IN REGIONAL LANGUAGES under consideration
- DAILY WAGES OF MESS WORKERS INCREASED.
- GRATUITY is granted
- PROMOTIONS ARE TO BE GIVEN @50%TO THE IN SERVICE CANDIDATES IN PLACE OF 33.33%
- 10%special allowance
- Children educational allowance is granted
FRIENDS,ALL THE ABOVE STAFF WELFARE MEASURES HAVE MATERIALIZED DUE TO OUR UNITED STRUGGLE.THE POSITIVES DEVELOPMENTS AND THE HARMONIOUS ATMOSPHERE PREVAILING AT THE HIGHER LEVELS IS A RESULT OF THE SOLIDIATORY EXHIBITED BY ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE STAFF.
IN CONTINUATION OF OUR EFFORTS FOR THE REDRESSAL OF THE JUST AND THE LEGITIMATE DEMANDS OF THE STAFF,THE MAVLANKAR AUDITORIUM ON 27-08-2006(SUNDAY) THE HON’BLE MINISTER OF HRD ,ARJUN SINGHJI,HAS AGREED TO INAGURATE THE CONVENTION.,SHRI SUDEEP BANERJEE,I.A.S. HON’BLE SECRETARY,EDUCATION,GOVT OF INDIA, HAS CONSENTED TO THE SPECIAL GUEST.THE HON’BLR COMMISSIONER ,NVS,NEW DELHI,WILL BE OUR GUEST OF HONOUR.
THE ANVSSA APPEALS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING STAFF TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR MITE FOR THE SUCCESFUL ORGANIZATION OF THE 5TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE.WE ACHIEVE OUR DEMANDS ONLY BY DEMONSTRATING OUR UNITY AND STRENGTH.
THE NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI FUNCTIONS SMOOTHLY AND EFFECTIONATELY ONLY WHEN THE JUST AND LEGITIMATE PROBLEMS OF THE TEACHING AND NON TEACHING STAFF ARE SOLVED.
WITH BEST WISHES,
I feel privileged to stand before the august assembly and submit the General Secretary’s report this morning. It has also been a responsibility thrust on me since the 3rd National Convention which was held at Hyderabad.
You all know how humble the starting of our Association was. Since the inception of the schools the tendency of the staff was to submit itself to the dictations of the authorities without questioning. The troubles, anxieties, tensions the staff who joined the Vidyalayas in the late 1980s and 1990s were innumerable but no one dared question the authoritarian rules, indiscriminate treatment and harassment meted out to the staff. Still the staff worked uncomplainingly. After two decades of its existence, do we notice any change in our working conditions now? Have we gained anything? Have we succeeded in bringing about a welcome change in the NVS administration towards the staff?
Everyone eagerly longed for an Association so that the troubles would find a solution. But the question was who would bell the cat? As a result of some strenuous efforts, the Association was finally formed. But the Samiti decided to nip the democratic voice of the staff in the bud and you all knew why. The authoritarian administrators felt that the staff had very little role to play in the administration and, according to them, it was ‘interference’ if the staff had any say in the administration. They flung the office-bearers to remote places, paying no heed to the rule of law. The NVS administration, thus, unleashed a rein of terror and played the role of a slave-master. The staff who led the Association was victimized and the word ‘Association’ sounded undemocratic and unconstitutional to the authorities. The administrative set-up reminded one of the bygone British regime. While the staff strived to cope up with the whimsical unscientific benchmarks and targets, the self-centered administrators enjoyed exercising the autocratic powers vested on them. The result was in the first decade of the existence of the Samiti, the genuine demands of the staff for more pay, allowances and most importantly for Pension fell on deaf ears. The indifferent officers let all the chances to grab Pension benefits slip away right before our very eyes. The staff was denied of their constitutional rights and the social security of the staff was given scant respect but at the same time exaggerated talks were made about ‘Innovations, pace-setting activities, etc.’
3rd National Convention at HyderabadThe year 2006 saw the rejuvenation of the association. The organization of the 3rd National Convention at Hyderabad was a historical event in the annals of ANVSSA. Thanks to the uncomplaining and unreserved cooperation of the staff from all corners of the country, the Convention was an unprecedented success qualitatively and quantitatively. The demands for Pension and Gratuity, hike in Pay and Allowances have become the sole agenda. It was vowed to wage a prolonged battle untiringly till all the demands were solved.
22 schools of Andhra Pradesh contributed Rs 1, 30,000 for the activities of the Association. We also received a great monetary support from Maharastra and Uttar Pradesh as well. In all we received Rs.4, 89,611 as contributions to the Association from different states up to the time of preparation of this report.
The first CEC meeting of the reorganized ANVSSA was held at Kerala House, New Delhi on 16.05.2006.
The delegation of the CEC called on the Hon’ble MOS for HRD, Smt.D.PURANDESWARI on 17-05-2006. The delegation also met the secretary school education, Shri Sudip Banerjee, IAS on the same day and presented the charter of demands.
The delegation called on the Hon’ble commissioner, NVS on 18-05-2006 and presented a memorandum. In spite of a detailed discussion on the demands, the issues have seen been solved even to this day.
The CEC met in Hyderabad on 30/07/2006 and took a decision to organize the Tri-Region Convention (Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow) with a view to percolate the activities of the Association in the North India.
This Tri-Region Convention was another milestone in the history of our Association. Shri Arjun Singh, the Hon’ble Minister for HRD, Shri Sudip Benerjee, the then Secretary for School Education and Shri O.N.Singh, Commissioner, NVS took part in convention. Over 1,000 delegates attended the meet. Shri Arjun Singhji assured the delegates of favorable disposal of all outstanding of issues.
In accordance with the decision taken on 27-08-06 at New Delhi, a leadership training programme was organized from 16-10-06 to 17-10-06 in New Delhi.
Unfortunately Shri T.P.Mani, President started intensifying his campaign, which he started soon after the 3rd National Convention in Hyderabad, against the General Secretary and clearly began taking a different stance on organizational issues.
He overtook the charge of the General Secretary and started convening CEC meetings and making controversial correspondence, much against the bye-law of the Association which empowers the General Secretary to convene the CEC meetings, make correspondence and hold a joint bank account along with the Treasurer.
On 30th December 2006 he addressed a letter to the General Secretary asking him not to conduct the meeting of the Central Executive Committee which had been scheduled to be held on 21st January 2007 in the background of a suggestion from the Commissioner that ‘we must strike a balance between the Association activities and service obligation’ and ‘as a gesture of faith and allegiance’ to the Hon’ble Commissioner.
On the very next day he sent a letter to the Manager of State Bank of India, Warangal leveling charges of misappropriation of funds against the General Secretary. He called the account ‘fraud’ and requested to freeze the account. Before leveling such grave charges against the General Secretary, Mr. Mani neither discussed his objections for the account with the CEC members nor sought to check the passbook, cheques, payments and receipts before starting his mud-slinging activities.
In his letter dated 30-01-2007 he leveled his arbitrary charges against Shri P.Madhuji, Hon’ble M.P. He alleged that the Hon’ble M.P. was assuming himself as the savior of Navodaya Vidyalaya Staff. He accused that efforts were being made to bring ANVSSA under the custody of his supporters.
In the letter which the General Secretary received on 24-02-07, Mr Yogendra Kumar Sharma intensified the character assassination job by leveling a series of charges against me. He announced that I was not democratically elected in Hyderabad convention. He charged that the General Secretary wanted to raise funds by holding conventions and was working for a political party. He declared that he was dismissing the General Secretary from ANVSSA in his capacity as the head of what he called ‘Administration and Disciplinary Action Committee.
The token protest which Mr T.P.Mani planned to conduct on 05-09-2007 was so ill-planned that it went almost unnoticed. The Daman CEC meeting which was held on 30-09-2007 called it a great success.
Time and space does not permit me to put before you the vigorous campaign they carried out against the General Secretary. Unfortunately they failed to exhibit the same enthusiasm and energy in leading the struggle for which the Association has been formed.
In view of seriousness of the allegations a CEC was organized on 21-01-2007 at Kerala house, New Delhi. At this meeting all the debit and credit particulars of the savings Bank account (A/C No. 30026112770) maintained at SBI, Industrial Estate Branch, Warangal (AP) were placed before the members along with pass books, cheque books, original vouchers etc. A core committee was formed by the CEC and it was decided to invite Mr Mani to express his feelings before the committee on 18.02.2007 at New Delhi. However, Shri Mani did not attend the CEC meeting. All the account-related documents were handed over to Mr. S.S.Dora, Treasurer ANVSSA, for further maintenance of accounts.
An auditing Committee headed by Shri Bhim Rao Sirsat Vice President, Shri Anup Sharma, Shri S.S.Dora and Shri R.R. Pattak was appointed by the C.E.C.to audit the receipts and payments submitted by the General Secretary. The Committee audited the accounts and found no discrepancies. However, Shri T.P.Mani did not attend the meeting. In the same meeting the General Secretary informed the CEC that he was to go abroad to visit his daughter and would return by 1st July 2007. Due to unforeseen circumstances the General Secretary had to overstay his leave up to 6th September 2007.
With reference to the letter dated 26th September 2006 NVS, New Delhi appointed a committee to discuss the modalities for formation of state cadres. It constituted an 8-member committee in which I was one of the members. It was the first ever time in the annals of NVS a teacher was given a chance to represent the teaching community in policy-making decision.
A meeting was convened at NVS Hqrs in June, 2007, where at the representatives from ANVSSA, Principals’ Forum and NVSEWA took part in the discussions on the New Pension Policy. Shri T.P.Mani represented the ANVSSA.
I resumed my duties on 11-09-2007. In my absence Mr T.P.Mani issued a circular informing the convening of CEC meeting at Daman on 30-09-2007. I requested him to postpone the meeting till autumn break. But he did not heed to my request and went on to conduct it but I learned that very few CEC members attended it.
The same meeting resolved to organize protests certain stage-wise. The state Committees were asked to organize Dharna in front of a prominent Central Government Offices at State Head quarters within their states. All Vidyalaya units were asked to depute 5 members to participate in the Dharna.
It was also proposed to hold another Dharna in front of the NVS Regional Offices on the same day, i.e. 19-11-2007.
After these two, another Dharna was to be conducted on 3rd December 2007 in front of NVS Headquarters.
Mr Mani and M.K.Singh stated that the decision to organize the Dharnas had been taken following ‘meticulous discussions’. It was also decided by them to inform NVS of the Dharna in advance.
We now know the outcome of these so-called ‘second and third stages of the Dharna’. Why did the people who had given the call for the Dharna withdraw at the last minute? What kind of signals did they send to the officers of NVS and more importantly to the teaching and non-teaching staff about their leadership qualities and integrity?
In the same meeting held in Daman, they stated that all members of the CEC had unanimously felt that Sri M.K.Singh shall act as In-Charge General Secretary in the absence of the General Secretary. It was strange that an In-charge was appointed after the General Secretary returned home while no substitute was taken when he was away for 6 months. The members who supported this proposal had not decided on the fate of the General Secretary. I would like to bring to your notice that this Daman meeting lacked quorum.
On 23-10-2007 a meeting was organized at JNV, Bangalore Rural by Mr Chavan Ramachandra, Joint Secretary, CEC to alleviate the differences. Mr Mani attended the meeting but did not reciprocate positively to the efforts of the CEC.
The CEC meeting was convened on 06-11-2007 at New Delhi to take stock of situation that emerged after the Daman meeting. majority members condemned the actions initiated by Shri Mani. A delegation of the CEC called on the honourable Commissioner NVS the next day to discuss the long-pending demands. The delegation received a half-hearted response from the NVS Administration. The Hon’ble Commissioner made remarks about the split in the Association. It was evident that the correspondence made by Mr. Mani on various occasions damaged the reputation of the Association.
MASS POST CARD CAMPAIGNAfter elaborate discussions the CEC decided to rejuvenate the Associations’ activities by initiating the Mass Post Card campaign through the staff in the first week of February, 2008 through letter dated 24.01.08 as a prologue to the Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi scheduled for 27-02-08, which was considered the most suitable time by the CEC as the Parliament Budget Session would be on.
As per the CEC'S resolution on 06-11-07 the General Secretary attended the Kerala State Committee Meeting on 17-02-08 at Ernakulam and also visited JNV, Ernakulam along with Shri R.V.K.Rao, Jt. Secretary. Shri T.P.MANI, President who was also present at meeting, gave his consent to work together with the General Secretary and endorsed the Mass Dharna Programme in the presence of the members of SEC, Kerala.
We have information from as many as 400 Vidyalayas that Mass Post Card campaign was successfully launched by the staff of JNVs and the staff of regional offices, and as a result, around 15000 post cards were received by NVS head quarters, Ministry of HRD and the 6th Pay Commission. The success of the campaign sent the officials the signals of mounting anguish among the staff on major demands like Pension, Gratuity, Higher Pay Scales, defining of working hours and recognition to the ANVSSA. The notable achievement being the officials of the HRD Ministry asking for the action taken report from the NVS on our legitimate demands.
At this juncture it must be mentioned that some damaging letters were dispatched to NVS offices and all Vidyalayas by Shri Yogendra Sharma, Vice-President in the first week of February urging the staff not to participate in the Mass Dharna. He went on records to say that all long-pending matters like Pension, Gratuity and Higher Pay Scales were under active consideration. He announced that his appeal to UPA Cabinet Ministers for Pension had been positively responded. His letters to the staff preparing for the Mass Dharna caused unwarranted confusion. The reputation of the Association was further damaged.
As a follow-up to the queries made by the Ministry of HRD, the Joint Commissioner (Administration), NVS, New Delhi addressed the letter number F.6-2/05/NVS (Estt.II) dated 14.02.2008, in the name of the General Secretary, ANVSSA-CEC at JNV-Warangal (AP) wherein the series of steps initiated by the NVS administration in the direction of fulfillment of our demands were listed out. A copy of the same was e-mailed to all the Vidyalayas. The under signed has submitted a reply to the above letter to that affect, which was also been e-mailed to all the Vidyalayas.
THE ANTI-EMPLOYEE STAND OF NVS EXPOSEDAt this stage the NVS administration took an authoritarian and undemocratic decision to snub the Mass Dharna by issuing instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners not to permit the staff to go on leave on the pretext of safety and security of students. This was a clear strategy of the NVS to incapacitate our struggle.
It may not be out of place to mention that the correspondence made by the vested and selfish elements within the ANVSSA around this time to the NVS headquarters as well as Vidyalayas might have lent support to the management in lashing out the most autocratic restrictions. The ANVSSA could successfully combat the NVS management with its strong and indomitable will.
VISIT TO VIDYALAYAS IN PUNJAB, HARYANA AND UTTAR PRADESHShri.R.V.K.Rao, Joint Secretary, Dr Venugopal, TGT Telugu, JNV, Rajnandgaon (Chattishgarh) and I reached Delhi in advance to the Dharna. We proceeded to Chandigarh on 22-02-08. A meeting was convened at JNV Chandigarh with NVSEWA and Principal’s Forum. We also visited Vidyalayas of Ropar, Fateh Garh Sahib and Patiala. Dr Bupendra Chowdhary, JNV, Rewari, Dr Venu Gopal, TGT Telugu(JNV, Rajnand Gaon, Chattishgarh), A.K.Gaur and V.K.Jha (Haryana) called on the staff of vidyalayas of Rewari, Mohindra Garh, Jajjar, Sonepatat, Panepat, Karnal, Jhind, Kurukshetra in Haryana state. Another team comprising of Shri Bhagawan Das, JNV, Eatah, UP, Basant Kumar, K.K.Chowdhary, from Haryana and S.K.Sharma, JNV, Eatah visited vidyalayas of Baghpat, Meerut, Muzafar Nagar, Saharanpur, Gaziabad and Gautama Budh Nagar to motivate the staff to join the Dharna.
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NVSAt the back drop of the above developments, the NVS management was compelled to invite us for discussions on 25.02.08. The ANVSSA accepted the invitation extended over telephone to Shri.L.B.Reddy, General Secretary at about 4PM on 22.02.08. A 14-member delegation including representatives from NVSEWA and Catering Assistants Association and other representatives from ANVSSA took part in the discussions held with NVS management. The NVS was represented by Shri O.N.Singhji, Hon’ble Commissioner, Shri Alok Vermaji, Joint Commissioner (Admn), and Shri .A.K.Singhalji, Deputy Commissioner (Admn).
Unfortunately, nothing concrete emerged through the discussions. All the measures enumerated in the JC’s letter dated 14.02.08 were elaborated once again. No time-bound action on any of the 39 demands submitted to NVS from time to time was assured. A casual approach was displayed towards our anguish.
The ANVSSA submitted 8000 membership forms to the NVS on 21st August 2006. Despite the lapse of over 18 months, the NVS has not completed the verification of membership, thus, denying the staff of their constitutional right of getting their Association recognized. The NVS has not given any instructions to the regional offices to expedite the verification process. The NVS failed to come out with a satisfactory reply in connection with the delay in recognizing the ANVSSA. The delegation pointed out how fast NVS was in issuing instructions to the subordinate officers to stop the staff from participating in the Dharna by not sanctioning leave.
Over and above the NVS put forward their unwarranted plan of bringing entire staff of the Samiti under the purview of New Pension policy, which was actually meant for those who joined service after 01.01.2004. The delegation pointed out that New Pension Policy was rejected by all the state and central government employees on the grounds that it was detrimental to their interests. The delegation made it clear that it was fully against any move by the NVS to go for the New Pension Policy.
In the end, the Hon’ble Commissioner appealed the delegation to call off the proposed Dharna. But the ANVSSA could not oblige as the discussions were not fruitful.
DHARNAWe are proud to state that 27th February was a red letter day in the history of the ANVSSA. Though we had not expected support from the Samiti, the unjustified efforts of the Samiti to sabotage the first ever nation-wide agitation were a shocking revelation to us. We kept in touch with the schools, updating them with our efforts to ease the tensions and urging them to participate in the Dharna unnerved. History teaches us how the suffering and the downtrodden braved the oppression to attain their lawful rights. The Jantar Mantar Road in New Delhi had become a platform on 27th February for the staff to expose to the world their saga suffering and indiscrimination. Staff from all nooks and corners of India cutting across the barriers of their cadre met for the first time to agitate for the attainment of their lawful demands. They knew they have nothing to lose but the shackles of injustice.
Shri.George Fernandez, senior leader of the Janata Dal and Hon’ble MP, called on the agitating staff and urged them to fight for their rights. He regretted that the Government had allowed the things to reach this pass where at the teachers had to come onto the roads for their most legitimate demand for Pension and Gratuity. He further assured that he would always be with the working people and more so with the staff of NVS for they had been recording academic excellence at National level. He assured that he would raise the issue in parliament at an appropriate time.
Shri. Sitaram Yechury, Hon’ble MP and Polit Bureau member of CPI (M) inaugurated the Dharna. He assured us of representing our demands to the Ministry of HRD and Finance. He regretted that in spite of hard work and producing quality result, the NVS staff is being discriminated. He felt that NVS should lessen the burden of their staff by recruiting more employees. He added that the system would function efficiently when the staff was not overburdened.
Shri.P.Madhu ,Hon’ble MP and our patron, has also addressed the Dharna and decried attempts of NVS to suppress the same with its dictatorial attitude. Calling the Dharna a historical moment, he urged the staff to wage a united struggle till the problems were solved. He praised the staff for boldly facing the oppressive measures of the management. He said that he had been representing many problems of the employees of the Samiti but the management had turned a deaf ear with its autocratic attitude. He assured the gathering that he would continue to lead them and wage a relentless struggle for achieving the most legitimate demands for Pension, Gratuity and higher pay scales.
MINI CONVENTIONA mini Convention was held at Constitution Club Hall, Rafimarg, New Delhi at 3p.m. on 27.02.2008. Shri Bhim Rao Sirsat, Vice-President, presided over the meeting.
The General Secretary appraised the gathering of the steps taken by the CEC in making the Post Card Campaign and the Mass Dharna a success. He elaborated the efforts of all the CEC members and others. He humbly thanked Shri Bhim Rao Sirsat (Maharastra), Shri Chawan Ramachanra (Karnataka), Smt Jyothi Panwar (Gujarat), Shri K.Rajesh (Kerala), Shri S.S.Dora (Orissa), Dr Sanjay Kumar Sinha (Chattishgarh), Shri S.K.Singh and Tilak Singh (M.P.), Shri Jagadish Rai and Shri Atul Kumar (UP), Shri R.V.K.Rao and Tirumal Rao(A.P.), Shri A.K.Gaur, V.K.Jha and Bupendra Chowdhary (Haryana), Krishna Kumar (Delhi), B.D.Mishra and B.L.Meena (Rajasthan), Smt Sangeetha and S.S.Judge (Punjab), R.P.S.Negi and R.P.Sharma (H.P.), R.R.Pathak, P.K.Mishra, Bijay Kumar and J.K.Singh (Bihar), D.Kumar and R.P.Singh (Jharkhand) for their immense contribution in the success of the Mass Dharna.
He thanked the NVSEWA and the Catering Assistants Association for lending support and active participation in the Mass Dharna. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the Principal’s Forum which opposed the undemocratic restrictions of the Samiti and lent their unconditional support.
Shri Md. A. A. Fatimiji Minister of state for HRD attended the convention and assured the staff of NVS of solving all the legitimate demands. He informed that the pension issue was at the advanced stage of consideration. He opined that payment of higher scales to the staff was rational. He further assured that he would review the issues with the secretary, School Education and NVS officials and take positive decisions. He informed that he was aware of the hard work put forth by the NVS staff for the qualitative results produced at the national level. In his address, Shri Sitaram Yechuri, Hon’ble M.P. felt that for the successful function of the NVS, more supportive staff should be appointed and lessen the burden cast on the employees. He told that making the staff to work for so many hours was constitutional. He advised that he would raise the issue during the budget session of Parliament at an appropriate time.
Shri P.Madhu, Hon’ble M.P. and Patron of the Association assured that he would continue to lend his support to the employees. He warned that the saga of victimisation in NVS will not be tolerated. He invited genuine representations form the staff for due representations
.The ANVSSA presented a charter of demands to the Hon’ble Minister.
The success of the Dharna strengthened the will of the staff who unanimously endorsed to intensify and continue the relentless struggle till Pension and Gratuity was extended to the staff. The Dharna was a great success owing to the selfless services rendered by the teaching & non-teaching staff. Further the success should also be attributed to the utmost discipline demonstrated by the staff and their will to face adverse conditions and sacrifices. The fact that quite a good number of women staff had attended the Dharna speaks of their deep-felt anguish against the NVS, as they had to shoulder their responsibilities in their families as well as their duties at the Vidyalaya, which resulted in the increased problems to them. Shri.P.Madhu, Hon’ble MP and patron of the Association, assured that he would continued to lead the employees.He warned that the saga of victimization in NVS will be no more. He invited genuine individual problems of the staff for dew representation. The staff left Delhi with a high degree of optimism and trust in the Association.
Now it is very much heartening to note that the 6th central pay commission took cognizance of the representations made by ANVSSA and indirectly recommended for the grant of higher pay scales and allowance and justified our demand for Pension.
We have represented to the Hon’ble Minister for HRD, duly enclosing a copy of the VI CPC recommendation for the grant of CCS Pension & Gratuity and also higher pay scales to the staff.
I sincerely feel that we could have been in a better position, had there not been internal problems. The differences Mr Mani had nourished against the General Secretary over the years could have been settled across the table but he magnified them out of proportions in his letters and relegated the demands of the staff and organizational matters. The failure to organize the Dharna that the Daman meeting had planned is a clear proof. They have also forgotten very conveniently what damage their repeated mudslinging correspondence and failure to organize their proposed dharnas and ineffective protest strategies could cause to the Association.
Friends, today when I look back at the activities that were taken up over the last 2&1/2 years, I feel we have not done enough to fulfill the trust and hopes reposed on us by thousands of our brothers and sisters working all over the country amidst agonizingly unfavourable working conditions. We are fighting for the achievement of Pension, Gratuity, Higher Pay Scales and democratic working environment. In the present economic and political scenario realization of such monetary benefits is not easy. Today even the strongest central and state government employees association are in no position to find a favourable solution to all their demands. They are being blunted day after day. The judiciary is are against agitations and strikes. In the last decade employees and working class have lost their many of their rights. The General public are unsympathetic towards the problems of government servants. As per the calculations made by the actuary appointed by NVS in 2006, Rs 10.0 crore only (Rupees ten crore only) was estimated to be the commitment on part of the government but the government is net willing to bear even this barest minimum of expenditure. This speaks volumes of how its policies are being influenced by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and MNCs. The Central and state governments cannot but surrender to the conditions of these agencies as many of the schemes are funded by them. Post-card campaigns, dharnas and black badge protests are not enough to make a deaf and indifferent government to yield to our demands. The need of the hour is to carry out a more vigorous struggle through concerted efforts. In history no mass movement has succeeded without sacrifices.
We are also well-aware of our weaknesses. The enrolment of membership has exceeded 50% till date. We must not lose any time in strengthening the Association with more and more members and this campaign should reach the Vidyalayas lying in the remote areas. We have been submissive for all these years but now it’s time we bid good-bye to unwanted loyalty to the administration and go all out against its feudal and anti-employee policies.
What I would like to emphasize is that we should get ready for more serious agitations in the days to come. “Arise, awake, stop not till the goal is reached”
I call upon all the delegates, who have come from all corners of the country to be prepared for waging more relentless battles in the coming days for the actualization of our legitimate demands.
LONG LIVE ANVSSA