Mita Mukherjee
Teachers working in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have urged Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla to stall the sangathan’s recent transfer policy which the teachers described as “anti-women in nature” and was “demoralizing the female teachers”.
In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the teachers have said that the policy is opposed to the central government’s “crucial and vital women-empowerment policy “ of “beti bachao beti padhao” scheme as several teachers, particularly women teachers were being subjected to harassment because of the frequent changes brought about in the transfer process.
KVS headquarters have changed the provisions of guidelines for transferring teachers and issued four sets of policies over the past five years, the teachers’ bodies said in the letter. Several women teachers had been transferred citing administrative reasons
“ Most regretfully this is to mention here that KVS Transfer Guidelines 2023 has been drafted is completely anti-women in nature. KVS HQ has been continuously demoralizing the female teachers since the month of September 2022, when they have transferred more than 1000 female teachers on the account of administrative ground transfer……..The present transfer policy 2023 represents the anti-women, that opposes the Governments crucial and vital women-empowerment policy of” beti bachao, beti padhao movement in India”, the letter read.
Several concessions were provided to KVS women employees before which have been taken away under the new provisions as a result of which the teachers are suffering a lot, said Manoj OJha representing the All India Kendriya Vidyalaya Teachers’ Association(AIKVTA).
For example, he said earlier concessions were given if a KVS employee and their spouse were employed within a radius of 100 kilometers from each other. This provision has been removed in the new policy.
In the earlier system women teachers could work in the same location till 15 years. In the new system they can stay in the same location maximum for seven years. Moreover, women teachers could earlier avail of the facility to seek transfers for an urgent need in the family like if their wards were to sit for board exams which does not exist in the new policy.
“ We are not against transfers. But we are opposed to the arbitrary changes brought about in the policy. The removal of several provisions have led to immense hardships to teachers, particularly the women teachers. As many as 5000 to 10000 teachers will suffer because of this faulty transfer policy ,”Ojha told EducationWorld.
Three KVS teachers’ bodies have planned to organize a black badge protest on July 18, and stage a demonstration in front of the regional KVS offices and at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi demanding proper action to rectify the policy,” Ojha said.
The members of AIKVTA, Kendriya Vidyalaya Pragatisheel Shikshak Sangh and Kendriya Vidyalaya Non-Teaching Staff Association will jointly organize the protest on July 18.
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