HUNGER WORK DAY ON 5TH SEPTEMBER 2009

Navodaya Vidyalaya staff protest today
Staff Reporter
Even JNV staff who had joined prior to January 1, 2004 being denied GPF-cum- pension scheme
Institutions like the Konkan Railways, IITs, IIMs and Punjab University have given the benefit
KOTTAYAM: More than 20,000 employees, both teaching and non-teaching, of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) and Navodaya Vidyalya Samiti across the country, will observe a ‘Hunger Working Day’ on Teachers’ Day, Saturday.
Speaking to The Hindu over the telephone for the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the employees, V. L. Balasubramanian, principal, JNV, Kasaragod, said they have decided to observe the Teachers’ Day as a protest day as the authorities have failed to give them the GPF- cum- Pension Scheme, in spite of repeated demands during the past two decades or more. “Out of the more than 20,000 employees, 14,225 had joined the organization prior to January 1, 2004 and are eligible for GPF-cum-Pension Scheme,” said Mr. Balasubramanian.
On an average there are 560 students in each of the 576 JNVs spread across the country.
The routine of these schools will not be affected in any way on Saturday, he said.
Institutions of similar nature, like National Open School, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools and Tibetan Central Schools have been granted GPF-cum-Pension Scheme, he said and added that even institutions like the Konkan Railways, IITs, IIMs and Punjab University have granted GPF-cum-Pension scheme to their employees who have joined prior to January 1, 2004.
Reports of various Department Related Standing Committees on HRD have also strongly recommended extension of pensionary benefits as has been done to Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Moreover, the MHRD had on many occasions written to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to implement GPF-cum-Pension Scheme to its employees.
“The employees are now suffering for the omissions of the then administrators of the NVS,’ Mr. Balasubramanian said. Presently, they have taken steps to bring the employees under the New Pension Scheme which is an injustice to the large majority of employees who are rightfully eligible for GPF-cum-Pension Scheme, he added.