Breaking promises the Bhatkhande way

LUCKNOW: What could be a more reliable guarantee than a written assurance? But, it has to be something else if the case pertains to Bhatkhande deemed (to be) Music University. Circa July, 2009. Employees and teachers -- for the first time in the 83-year-old history of this august institution -- took to streets protesting against administrative apathy towards their long pending demands.Infact, they were rather forced to opt for this kind of protest by a numb responsefrom the director (vice-chancellor) and president (governor of UP) ofBhatkhande. "We sent many memorandums to them but were not given a singlehearing," recalled a senior office-bearer of the association.Thedemands were as simple; pertaining to release of pension of the retired staffand those who are about to retire, salaries as per sixth pay commission, medicalallowances, timely promotions, job security among others. "They asked fornothing that a government employee does not deserve... I do not know what iscoming in way of meeting these small demands," wondered guru Banmali Sinha, aretired professor from Bhatkhande.However, after twelve days ofagitation some respite came in the form some pressure from the "fifth floor''(CM's secretariat) and the vice-chancellor agreed for a bipartite talks with theassociation. The strike was called off after a written assurance containing ninepoints.The very first point of the MoU said that no action would beinitiated against any employee or teacher who went on the strike nor would theybe harassed in any way. But ask Raj Prakash, general secretary of the Bhatkhandeassociation and he has a different story to tell. Recently, when theBhatkhande's president office reacted to a compliant sent by the association, anotice was slapped on him. Also issued to president of theassociation, Dharmanath Mishra, the notice asked them to produce evidence toback the charges levelled by them within two days, otherwise the universitywould assume that the allegations were false and baseless. Thereafter, actionwould be initiated against them for sending a false complaint while invitingdisciplinary action, the notice stated.Interestingly, theadministrative officer Himanshu Vishwaroop gave two days time to theoffice-bearers to produce the evidence. But, the letter issued on October 22gave a deadline of October 23. Also, the complaint letter sent by theassociation had levelled charges against a group of teachers in the universitybut the letter mentioned that charges were levelled against the Bhatkhandevice-chancellor Shruti Sadolikar Katkar."I am treated like acriminal by the vice-chancellor and her core group... they hold me responsiblefor creating problems in their comfortable lives... But I will not let thishappen at the cost of my colleagues and co-workers suffering," Raj Prakash toldTOI on Thursday.Not only this, the university administration haslodged a complaint against Raj Prakash and three others allegedly for barginginside the V-C office when she was away and tampering the papers. When asked tocomment in this regard, circle officer, Kaiserbagh, RL Jayant said: "This wasnot the case... the vice-chancellor and other mistook the presence of thesepeople inside her office... they had gone for talks."What raisesstink in the matter is that Raj Prakash was accompanied by Satish Pandey,president of UP Rajya Karmchari Mahasangh, whom the vice-chancellor had met inJuly while resolving the crisis.An assistant accountant withBhatkhande Raj Prakash joined the music institute way back in early 1970."Things have speedily deteriorated in recent years... I grew in life andprofession in a Bhatkhande that was a second home to each one working here. Butnow, the state of affairs is hurting us, both personally and professionally," heshared.Second point of the MoU assured the release of pension to theretired employees and teachers within 45 days of the date on which it wassigned. The deadline expired in the second week of September but yet there areno sign of the pension. On Thursday, Tej Singh Tak, a retired faculty from vocalsinging, visited Bhatkhande to meet the administrative officer but returnedempty handed.Similarly, the MoU assured Shahnaz Bano, faculty insitar, of a promotion within 15 days. But the matter is yet to be resolved.This, despite several reminders from the special secretary, culture department,Neelam Ehlawat - who was present when the MoU was signed. "If not this istargeting the employees and teachers then what is it?" askedShahnaz.More points can be quoted. But is there really a point? TOItried to speak to Vice-Chancellor Shruti Sadolikar Katkar. But usual, she wasunavailable for comments.