Video Producer: Maaz Hasan
Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
My name is Chitra Srivastava, a Hindi teacher for the last 23 years at Indraprastha World School, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi .
In February this year, I did not receive my salary for the month of January 2021, for which, I reached out to the school administration. I was initially told that there is a delay in payment from the school's accounts department. I waited patiently and the salary that never arrived but I continued to take classes.
On 1 March 2021, I was informed over a phone call by the principal, to visit the school immediately and meet the administration, which included the chairman, principal and human resource manager.
To my surprise, in the meeting, I was asked to sign a backdated retirement letter. The letter read, “Mrs. Chitra Srivastava TGT attaining superannuation age on 05.02.2020 stands retired on 29.02.2020 (afternoon).”
I refused to sign the unethical document at that moment, so later, they sent the letter via Speed Post on my address.
While it is true that I attained the superannuation age, 60 years, on 5 February 2020, but the school never asked me to retire and availed my teaching services till 28 February 2021. In fact, two months before I turned 60, I had reached out to the administration department of the school to initiate my exit formalities. But I was verbally told to carry on with the job.
It’s been over six months now, I am still waiting for my salary, gratuity and complete provident fund to be redeemed.
I also tested COVID positive along with my 67-year-old, retired husband in April 2021. I was in dire need of money. I had asked repetitively for my dues, on which, I had not received any response from the school. I had to request for a soft loan from my relatives to clear the treatment bills. Due to sudden ceasing of my salary and work I could not pay my house rent and had to move out to my son’s place in Gurugram.
This horrible incident along with a battle with COVID-19 has strained my health badly. At this stage, I am absolutely broken after dedicating almost 40% of my life to an institution that has blatantly left all my contributions unrecognized and neglected.
I hope the school will bid me farewell with respect and my a full and final settlement which I worked for and I am eligible for.
The Quint has reached out to the Indraprastha World School, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi, over e-mail and phone call multiple times. Their response is awaited. The story will be updated upon receiving the response.
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