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Journalism of Courage
SHIMLA, June 8: The national executive of the All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation which met here today, threatened to resort to indefinite strike in all colleges and universities all over the country from August 11 if its 30-point demand charter was not accepted by the Government of India.
Briefing the mediapersons about the deliberations in the meeting, General Secretary of AIFUCTO, Rinmoy Bhattacharaya said that on August 4, dharnas would be organised in state capitals and universities in support of AIFUCTO demands.
Bhattacharya said the meeting took note of the offer of the Union Minister of HRD to abolish two categories of Senior Reader and Senior Professor and to introduce increments to teachers getting Ph.Ds during service and welcomed them.
However, the body regretted that on all other crucial issues, the government either maintained an adamant attitude or procrastinated decisions. On the crucial issues of UGC recommended scales and restoration of parity between teachers of IITs and IIMs and those in the university system, the government refused to move and stuck to the Rastogi Committee scales of pay.
Bhattacharya regretted that even on the issue of career advancement to professorship which had been recommended by the UGC and also by the Rastogi Committee, the government in order to delay it, decided to seek the opinion of the UGC once again. On the issue of assured third promotion to all teachers on the basis of satisfactory performance also, the minister’s attitude was identical, the general secretary said. Bhattacharya reiterated the demand that retirement age for teachers should be raised from 60 to 62 years as recommended by Rastogi Committee.
AIFUCTO appealed to all teachers of colleges and universities to participate in the protest.
