JOIN USPre-university lecturers, who have been waiting for more than a year for the government to address their concerns, have decided to strike work if their demands are not met in the State budget this week.
Karnataka State Pre-University Lecturers Association president Thimmaiah Purle told reporters that a meeting with MLCs would be also organised on March 19 to discuss their problems.
“We will wait for the State budget. If there is nothing set aside for us, then we will definitely go on strike,” he said.
The lecturers from across the State will also sign a memorandum on Wednesday and submit it to the chief minister.
There are 19,650 PU lecturers teaching at various government PU colleges in the State. Of these, 50 per cent are direct admissions and the rest are by promotion. For those directly recruited, the government has not given promotions on time, Purle said. The Association wants the government to promote these lecturers to first-grade colleges, he said.
Besides, the Association urged the government to set right the pay anomalies. “People who have started their career with us have moved on to higher basic pay. It is unfair that the government is not addressing our concerns,” he said.
At present, the lecturers are getting a basic pay of Rs 22,800. They want it to be increased to Rs 28,100, Purle said.