DPS terminates over 100 drivers, helplessness galore
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 4: Owing to the non-operationalization of transport in Kashmir schools due to COVID-19 pandemic, the managements of several schools have started the process of terminating drivers associated with their transport fleet.
While many of the schools have terminated drivers verbally, the Delhi Public School (DPS), Srinagar alone has handed over termination letters to more than 100 drivers.
The move has come in the backdrop of events in which the Government has strictly ordered schools not to charge transport fee from the parents.
In this regard, it has been learned that the Government has not offered any helping hand to the management of schools so that they could continue employing the non-teaching staff, especially those associated with the transport.
Excelsior has learned that while the schools with substantial income have not so far started any such process, however, there are scores of schools that have terminated drivers verbally.
On August 29, the termination letters were handed over to DPS drivers that read: “With regret, I have to inform you that your services are not required. As such your employment with us stands terminated. Your one month notice period shall commence from 1st of September 2020 and in lieu of this notice period, one month salary in advance shall be credited to your salary account as your full and final settlement.”
Public Relations Officer (PRO), DPS Srinagar Eshan Quddusi told Excelsior 100+ drivers have been terminated owing to the financial constraints and the rest of the non-teaching staff is well in place.
He said that there were directions from the Government not to charge transport fee from the parent. “We have been paying them (drivers) from August last year and they will also get the salary for September along with all the benefits they are entitled to under the law,” he said.
He said that they have been charging 50% of transport charges from the parents and with the help of which the school was paying the drivers.
“Very few people were paying that 50% and rest were not willing to do that. It was getting very difficult for the school to continue paying them and that’s why we took the step; we ended it legally; we were not in a position to pay them for next 6 more months,” he said.
Principal, Tyndale Biscoe School Parvez Samuel Koul told Excelsior that they are not going to carry out any such exercise.
It has been learnt that several schools have informed the drivers that they will be paid salaries provided they (schools) get the required income, while others have said that they will be providing food packets to the families of the drivers per month.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom has fallen upon more than 100 households after their family members were handed termination letters.
“I don’t know anything about days to come; while we understand the gravity of the situation for the school, we also have been left it lurch amid such tough times,” a driver who has also received a termination letter said.
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