The employees of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) across India staged a widespread ‘pen down strike and demonstration’ on Monday, demanding equal pay, promotions and retirement benefits, alleging discriminatory policies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The employees staging protest, organised by the Forum of KVKs & AICRP and KVK Employees Welfare Association, Madhya Pradesh (KVK MP), were demanding immediate implementation of the ‘One Nation, One KVK’ policy, a key recommendation of the high-level Paroda Committee.

 

The core of the employees’ grievance was the systemic disparity between KVKs directly administered by ICAR (approximately 9% of all centers) and the remaining 91% hosted by State agricultural universities, NGOs, and other institutions. Discussing their issues, the protesting employees said that full allowances and contributions to PF/NPS have not been restored, despite the suspension of an ICAR order from August 20, 2024.

 

Similarly, the non-ICAR KVK staff are reportedly denied access to the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotion policy available to their ICAR counterparts, non-ICAR employees are deprived of crucial benefits such as pension, gratuity, and equal retirement age. They accused ICAR of illegally withholding salaries when host institutions grant promotions, a practice they claim violates constitutional rights to equality (Article 14) and social justice (Articles 38 and 39). The Forum stressed that KVKs are critical technology-based institutions essential for disseminating scientific research to farmers and fostering food security.

 

They emphasised that this collective call for justice is not anti-national but a necessary step to restore the employees’ dignity who have served the farming community for 50 years. Leaders of the Forum and KVK MP Association clarified that only formal, written orders from ICAR would be accepted as a resolution, rejecting any verbal or telephonic assurances. They appealed the Government of India for immediate intervention, and warned to stage a larger democratic movement if the policy of ‘One Nation, One KVK, One Policy’ is not implemented.