PRESS RELEASE - TOKEN STRIKE ON 16-11-2009

Joint Action Committee of Employees Association/Forum of
Navodaya Vidyalaya samiti(All India Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Principal’s Forum, All India Navodaya Vidyalaya Staff Association,
Navodaya Vidyalaya samiti Employees Welfare Association,
All India Navodaya Vidyalaya Catering Assistant Association).

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Contact Address : Principal’s Quarters, JNV Periye, Kasaragod Kerala -671-316.
Phone: 04672234057 (O/R) Mobile :09447275766

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F No: 52/JAC/2009-10 Dt: 16/11/2009
PRESS RELEASE

The employees of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country and the regional offices of Navdaya Vidyalaya samiti have gone on one day token strike today demanding GPF cum Pension to all employeeswho have joined before 01.01.2004 and 10 % special allowance to non-teaching staff. The issue of pension has been remaining unresolved for the past two decades.
Reports from all over the country reveals that the strike is total and peaceful. About 20,000 employees have participated in the token strike. Employees have taken up processions and the meetings held in respective districts were addressed by local MPs,MLAs or other Service association leaders.

This token strike is part of the ongoing efforts to get GPF cum pension implemented. Earlier the employees of Navodaya Vidyalayas and regional offices of NVS had observed Black badge protest week from November 2 to 7 and a massive rally was staged in New Delhi on 9th November,2009. The rally was attended by over five thousand employees from across the country.

Though Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are Central Government Institutions established as per the New Policy on Education 1985 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development the administrative body,Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti initially opted for CPF scheme which is meant for re-employed staff or staff on contract and chose to continue the same till date. As per the CCS rules Navodaya Vidyalayas employees are eligible for CCS Pension(1972) as the department receives 100 % grant in aid from the Central Government.

154th,184th and 198th Department related Parliamentary standing Committees on HRD have strongly recommended the government to implement pension scheme to the employees of Navodaya Samiti. Many sister institutions like National open school(NIOS), Kendriya Vidyalayas ,Sainik schools, Tibetan Central school who have less working hours compared to teaching and non-teaching staff of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are granted GPF cum Pension scheme.The IV pay commission had given a one-time option to all central government institutions to switch over to pension scheme from CPF scheme. Accordingly several institutions have done so, yet NVS chose to continue CPF scheme without the consent of its own employees.


Many representations were given during the last 20 years but it has not brought any fruits. Now Novodaya Vidyalaya samiti has introduced new pension scheme to all the employees who have joined right from the inception where as even as per the Govt. of India’s instructions the new pension scheme is not applicable to those who have joined prior to 01/01/2004. The legitimate right of the employees who have joined prior to 01/01/2004,GPF Cum Pension Scheme, has been insensitively denied.

The Chief Vigilance Officer of Ministry of HRD had instructed Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to implement pension scheme and intimate positively on or before 31.08.1995.The date was extended to 16.10.1995 since NVS did not comply with. However NVS stood indifferent.

In an exclusive meeting for IITs,IIMs and NVS called by the Board of Secondary and Higher Education ,these organizations were asked to implement pension and furnish report positively NVS failed to act in favour while IITs and IIMs took immediate steps to implement CCS pension to their employees and ansure social security of their staff in their post retirement years.

The employees of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are bound to work even after the normal schooling hours daily and also on Sundays and holidays taking care of the activities of the students under curricular and co-curicular activities being residential in nature. These members of staff are also responsible for the safety and security of 560 students or so in each Vidyalaya spread over 576 school situated in rural areas one in each district of India.

Today’s token strike has sent a strong message to NVS and the Government that the employees are strongly resolved to get on with indefinite strike from the first week of December if no positive steps are taken to alleviate the problems of the staff who work round the clock for uplift of talented rural children which was a great dream of the former Prime Minister,Sri.Rajiv Gandhi.


For Joint Action Committee
(V L Balasubramnian)
President
All India Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Principal Forum & Member JAC