PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A team of officers from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) met the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobal on Saturday to discuss security arrangements amid ongoing protests by parents and teachers against the transfer of Raksha Anusandhan Vidyalaya (RAV), a DRDO-run school, to DAV management.
Following the meeting, the SSP directed more police deployment at the protest sites to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of all involved.
The parents and teachers have been protesting the decision, expressing concerns over increased expenses. Many parents said they had already purchased new books and uniforms and paid school fees. They also alleged that DAV school fees are much higher, which might add to their financial burden.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a DRDO officer said that the discussions with DAV management have resulted in agreement on key issues like no fee hike, no annual admission fee and free books for students from Class 1 to 8 for this year. Additionally, teachers would be given a probation period of one year for continued employment.
DRDO officials further said that the decision to transfer the school had been taken by DRDO headquarters. They added that a notice regarding the transfer had been published in newspapers five years ago. The school operates under a welfare society, and there are seven such schools across the country.
Currently, the school has around 150 students and offers classes up to Class 10. It employs 11 regular teachers and about six sessional teachers.
DRDO officials informed that the school earns approximately Rs 34 lakh annually from fees, while its yearly expenditure is around Rs three crore. They also highlighted that staff salaries are quite high, with cleaning staff earning about Rs 50,000 per month while the top salaries are as high as Rs 1.5 lakh.
