JOIN US The office-bearers of PU Lecturers’ Association will stage a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the city on January 21 seeking full implementation of the Kumar Naik committee report.
Thimmaiah Purle, president of Karnataka State Pre-University College Lecturers’ Association, said that they were taking to streets as the government had not fulfilled their demands even after repeated requests.
The lecturers have been demanding a hike in their salaries and address the issue of pay disparity. “Last year, the government called us for a meeting and said that we will be given a hike of one scale. The Kumar Naik Committee recommends a four-scale hike. We have sought the government to give at least a two-scale hike,” said Purle. He added that they were approaching the government well in advance since it could cause inconvenience if the issue was raised during examination time.
The lecturers have also been demanding timely promotions. “Several of us serve for decades in government colleges and retire as mere lecturers. We must be promoted,” Purle said. The association has sought that part-time lecturers be given retirement benefits on a par with full-time employees. At least 500 posts of principals are lying vacant, according to the association.
The association recently submitted a memorandum to the government over confusion on pursuing the mandatory BEd course. In 2013, the government recruited 1,763 lecturers to government PU colleges across the state.
However, a notification was issued stating that these lecturers should obtain BEd degrees before January 2017. Purle said that the government had not assured that the lecturers would continue to get their salaries if they take leave for BEd course.