Violation of minimum wages act??
N & M Correspondent & Nachiketa
Port Blair, Aug 26: The Zilla Parishad, A & N Islands in collaboration with Vivekananda Kendra started a few Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya (VKZPV) in several parts of these Islands with the intention to impart quality education in various remote schools.
Presently six Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya are at functioning in Port Mout, Ranchi Basti, Kadamtala, Basantipur, Tugapur and Diglipur. These schools have nearly 400, 400, 420, 300, 166, 166 students respectively with total 97 teaching staffs.
Even after the implementation of sixth pay commission, a teacher in the Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya holding a post-graduate degree draws a salary less than a Peon of a government school. The reality bites. There is a gap of Rs 4000 to 5000 between the minimum salary drawn by a Primary School teacher and a Peon.
There is no doubt that staffs of VKZPV are discharging outstanding services for the all round development of the students despite of the fact that they are getting just peanuts as salary.
The in-charge of the Secondary schools, receiving Rs. 12000/- and Middle School in-charge getting Rs.8500/- whereas the other teachers viz PST & GTT getting monthly salary Rs.6000/- to 7000/- only. Besides this some old teachers those who are working for more than 6 years they are getting only Rs. 11000/- per month.
On the other hands the BSS Staff (Pre Primary) are getting Rs. 3000/- and 4000/- per month, which is very shameful and unlawful in the terms of our state laws. No need to mention about the condition of non teachings staffs as it a can be assumed from the teachers’ salary.
In the matter of enhancement of salary so many staffs from North to South Andaman Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya raised their grievances before the Secretary Vivekananda Kendra, Port Blair and other officials but the Secretary is silent on the issue and allegedly showing zero interest in this regard.
It is learnt from some reliable sources that the Director of Education has expressed that the Administration is ready to finance the salary of the Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan so that handsome pay may be facilitated to the teachers saying Rs. 18000/- and 13000/- to Secondary Schools and 13000/- to PS and Middle School for their development. But the Secretary, VKV is reportedly forcing the school in-charge to return the amount to the Education Department.
When Andaman Sheekha tried to know why the Secretary is forcing to return the fund to the Education Department the reply was that the VKV do not want anyone’s help in this way. But the question is why the VKV is exploiting these highly educated people by paying very low salary? Why they are not following the Govt. Directions, about the minimum wages?
The Lt. Governor in the Independence Day’s speech emphasized about upgradation of salary of NRHM, providing of laptop, but the issues related with lending of support to Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya through SSA has been missed out in the speech.
Their salary should be increased with immediate effect.