Implement 7th Pay Commission report, lecturers demand

Under the leadership of All India Federation of University & College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO), All Manipur College Teachers’ Association (AMCTA) and Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT), lecturers from various colleges staged a protest in front of the Deputy Director of Collegiate Education office, near University College in Hampankatta, Mangaluru, against the non-implementation of 7th UGC Pay Revision Committee report.

As part of the Nationwide agitation, the lecturers observed ‘Black Day’ by wearing black badges while on duty and later conducted a protest, putting forth various demands including the Seventh UGC Pay revision recommendations, scrapping-off of the 2004 pension scheme, abolition of anomalies in the sixth pay scale recommendations and stopping commercialisation of education institutions.

‘Delay ignored’

AMUCT President Ummappa Poojary said that the Ministry of Human Resource Development has been ignoring the teachers by delaying their pay revisions under the seventh pay commission.

He also urged the department to clear the earlier arrears of teachers and said 100% financial assistance for uniform and simultaneous implementation of seventh pay scales should be given.

Court Arrest

AMUCT President said that during a meeting with the Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, he had assured that the seventh pay commission recommendations woild be implemented before May. But that has not been done till date. If the demand is not fulfilled, all teachers under AMUCT will participate in court arrest to be held in New Delhi on September 5, the Teachers’ Day.

The National Vice President of AIFUCTO Norbert Lobo said, “The association has been fighting for its rights for the past three years.” He wanted to know why the Chowhan report has not been made public till today. The government should call lecturers for a talk before implementing the report. The AMUCT has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister in this regard.

The demands also included strengthening of UGC and withdrawal of NET/SLET/SET for PhD registration.

AMUCT General Secretary Dr Kumar Hegde B A was also present during the protest.

DH News Service