PANAJI
"We have repeatedly written to not only the society, but the Education department and the Chief Minister as well, but nothing has happened in the last one year, and we have got no response from them either," she said.The association represents 4,000 employees working in 83 institutions run by the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE), which is the Church arm. According to Fernandes, there have been several cases of employees not being given confirmation letters for over eight years. Based on rules, employees need to be given their confirmation letters after a maximum of two years but most teachers have yet to receive them."Teachers that are newly appointed have to wait a year before they even get a salary and even those that are regular, don't get paid on time. It would be better like the Bal Rath employees who will be getting their salaries through electronic transfer, if we too could be included in the list," she said.Currently, schools belonging to the DSE are funded by the State government and therefore get funding from them which are then distributed to the employees by the school management.Another issue the association has raised is that of enquires being conducted by the DSE. In one instance of a case at the Rosary College, Navelim, two girls had complained of harassment from the principal. The Education department had ordered for an enquiry but the association has said this too is a scam."Sham enquires are being conducted as the officers doing the inquiries are either or were employed by the DSE itself. How can the enquiry be just?" said Fernandes.On RTI applications filed by the association, the DSE has refused to divulge information. This needs to change, added Fernandes, citing a Supreme Court order that forces institutions like the DSE to reveal information under the Right to Information Act.
