DPS closed after transport and non-teaching staff go on strike as demands not met

A strike by transport and non-teaching staff of Delhi Public School (DPS) has forced the school to close down. While the school was shut on September 16 for all the classes,on Saturday and Monday,Nursery to Class III were shut and school authorities said Nursery to Class III will be shut even on Tuesday.

Parents are unhappy as children are made to suffer due to school’s internal problems. Circulars put up by the school quotes the reason of the strike as – show of discontent which was being orchestrated under some outsiders’ influence. However,the transport staff has a different story to tell. “Many of us have been working with the school for a long time but we do not get enough salary. For many of us,who are the sole breadwinners of the family,this is posing problem now. There is also no job security as we have to get our contracts renewed every year. We informed the school authorities about our issues two months ago but they did not do anything about it. Initially,it was only the transport staff who went on strike but today even the non-teaching staff joined us in our agitation,” said one of the bus drivers.

The school has 52 drivers and conductors who have refused to report to the school. They were also joined by about 40 of the school’s non-teaching staff. “I drop my daughter everyday and for the past few days,I have been coming back. The school should sort out the differences among themselves and not make the students suffer,” said Major (Retd) Mathew Oommen,a parent.

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Another parent,who did not wish to be named,said,“Many of us do not send our children to the school in buses. The school should make sure that students and parents do not suffer due to their internal problems.”

The transport staff is hired by the school through outsourcing agency Satyasai Human Resource Solutions. Its spokesperson,said,“We have been following all government guidelines. We have pampered our staff for all these years. All these people are becoming a part of a mob mentality and going on strike. There is no end to people’s wishes and not everything can be fulfilled.”

Even after calling her repeatedly and sending her texts,principal Neelam Chakrabarty refused to comment.