Retired KVS employees take out rally

Hyderabad: Where should the retired central government teaching staff and non-teaching staff go, if their woes are not attended and neglected? After failing to capture the eye of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, an autonomous body under HRD Ministry, to respond on their grievances for almost two years, the retired employees of KVS turned a red eye and went on for a rally as part of the protest against the non-implementation of 7th pay commission and denial of Central Government Health Scheme, CGHS, at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Regional Office, here in Hyderabad, on Monday.

Since ever the Supreme Court ordered to implement the 7th pay commission, the retired school teachers and non-teaching staff have not received the revised pension amounts on the sidelines of 7th pay commission and they were left unattended without being given CGHS medical facility. However, the working employees were sanctioned to avail the revised pension once retired, on 1 January 2016.

“We are discriminated and also ill-treated. When the retired employees of KVS in Delhi headquarters could receive revised pensions then why others in varied are hindered to enjoy the same,” questions, V Satyanarayana, President, Kendriya Vidyalaya Retired Employment Association (KVSREA) in Hyderabad.

Speaking on the lines of the need of CGHS, he pointed that access to CGHS, enables us to avail heath checkups and helps us in the emergency. There are instances of many retired poor people died of heart attack, kidney disease and other various health problems. If there is no swift action to condemn this injustice and we will continue to be at risk of falling to death with having no financial aid for treatment.”

Another 62-year-old, T Vijaya Kumar, retired commerce teacher said “Gone are the days of we enter into KVS in a royal way, the administration has brought us to stand in front of the gate to seek their favour. I demand that the teachers should be given respect and consideration even after their retirement.”

With bearing hardships, he lamented that” When we are not looked after by children, it is the only the pension amount that helps us to lead smooth lives. We are not at the age of doing rounds at the court steps for our right to benefit the 7th pay commission and medical facilities. The administration shouldn’t turn a blind eye for our sincere 30 years of service.”

Retired Principal Baljeetkaur, informed that, “We worked day and night to prepare younger generations and also to improve the quality of education in KVS. But, not much is received in return once retired. As we do not wish to be dependent on our children and also be burden to them, the pension is the only source of income and the avail of medical facility allows us to sustain on our own.”

However, the rally was initially restricted by the local police to avoid traffic congestion but later it went on smoothly after the retired employees team agreed to walk to the corner of the road in two lines around the KVS regional office and the retired employees also threatened the government if their demands are not met.

BY Sushma Nagaraju