'Give pension, Provident Fund to senior NVS employees'

The two CBSE schools belonging to the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) in Goa have joined others across the country to make a representation to the Centre demanding the implementation of the government of India pension and provident fund to employees who joined prior to January 1, 2004.

In their representation to Union finance minister R S Nayak, the secretary of the all-India Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya principals' forum and principal of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Canacona said, "While expressing our sincere gratitude to the government of India for having taken a cabinet decision to introduce the new pension scheme to the employees of the NVS, the principals' forum draw the attention of your honour to review and modify the pension scheme in respect of employees joined prior to 01.01.2004 with the CCS Pension Rules, 1972."

The grounds state that employees who have joined the NVS from 1986 onwards on deputation and have got absorbed subsequently, have established Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, one in each district, and "developed the organization to the level of pace-setting institutions. These employees should be given a fair deal."

It was also stated that as per the cabinet decision of the government of India on January 29, 2009, the employees of Akashvani and Doordarshan, who were deputed to Prasar Bharati before October 5, 2007, will now be eligible for all facilities available for Central government employees including all retirement and pension benefits. "The NVS, which was established in 1985, had drawn teachers, principals and other non-teaching staff from pensionable departments like the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, sainik schools, state government schools etc. Thus, it is only a matter of natural justice to introduce the CCS Pension Rules, 1972 to employees of various Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas who work relentlessly day and night to shape the future citizens predominantly belonging to rural areas," the memorandum states.

The government of India has extended the pay structure and other service conditions to the employees of the NVS on a par with other central government employees. The NVS has also been brought under the ambit of the Central administrative tribunal. The government of India had notified the finance ministry of expenditure on account of the provident fund scheme being extended to the employees of the NVS in accordance with the Provident Fund Act, 1925.

The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in Canacona and Valpoi are the two schools functioning under the samiti in Goa.
Source: The Times of Inida