Dear @ADG_OSEPA & @OSEPA_Official,
Your letter No. 8569VE26 dated 03.08.2026 threatening Vocational Trainers with suspension for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest is a bad move that reeks of authoritarian overreach.
Let's be clear:
🔹 Article 19(1)(b) of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to assemble peacefully without arms.
🔹 Article 19(1)(c) guarantees the right to form associations and unions to collectively voice grievances.
🔹 The right to peaceful protest is implicitly recognized as a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) & (b), subject only to reasonable restrictions.
By instructing VTPs to prohibit VTs from participating in strikes or agitations and threatening disciplinary action including termination, you are:
❌ Violating the fundamental rights of thousands of Vocational Trainers
❌ Intimidating workers for exercising lawful democratic rights
❌ Using contractual clauses as a weapon to suppress dissent
The Tripartite Agreement cannot be used as a shield to override constitutional guarantees. No contract can take away fundamental rights.
Instead of threatening hardworking VTs who have been delivering vocational education under Samagra Shiksha & PM SHRI across Odisha, we urge you to:
✅ Engage in meaningful dialogue with VT representatives
✅ Address genuine grievances through proper channels
✅ Respect the constitutional rights of every citizen
Threatening suspension for peaceful protest is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and sets a dangerous precedent.
We demand immediate withdrawal of this coercive directive.
#RightToProtest #FundamentalRights #VTWAO #OSEPA #Odisha #VocationalTrainers #Article19 #ConstitutionOfIndia