Mangalore: PU Lecturers to Go on Indefinite Strike from Dec 8
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Dec 6: Condemning discrimination in salaries paid to PU lecturers in comparison to their counterparts from degree colleges, the PU lecturers have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Thursday December 8 by boycotting classes.
Addressing reporters here on Tuesday December 6, Radhakrishna Rao, president of private aided lecturers' union said that the salary scale for PU lecturers, principals and degree college lecturers and principals remained equal till the year 1996. "However, when degree college salary scale was revised in 1993 and 2005, there was a huge difference in salaries of PU lecturers and degree college lecturers," he said.
Now the PU lecturers are paid as per Rs 11,400+ Rs 200 salary scale, while the fifth wage commission recommended a salary of Rs 13,400. "In neighbouring states like in Andhra Pradesh, PU lectures are paid as per Rs 16,030 salary scale, in Maharashtra it is Rs 17,900 and Tamil Nadu Rs 21,700. Also, in Navodaya schools (higher secondary division) run by the centre, they are paid as per Rs 18,170 salary scale. This discrimination is regrettable," he said.
He added, "Though repeated appeals were made to the state government on this issue, no action was taken by the government. Also, boycott during evaluation of exam papers during the month of April this year also made no difference to the concerned.'
The PU lecturers should be paid Rs 14,050 and PU principals Rs 18,150 as basic salaries, Rao said.
"The government had called for a talk, and in its order letter number 126/D T W dated April 11, 2011, it assured of a remedy within 30 days time. But no action was taken. A number of personal visits were also to the chief minister and the education minister. The CM on November 10 assured in writing that a remedy would be brought about within 10 days," he added.
"As none of the above steps worked out in favour of PU lecturers, and to avoid the blame on PU lectures that we go on strike during evaluation time neglecting the future of students, we have decided to fight for our rights well in advance and in a step-by-step manner," said Rao.
The strike will be held under the banner of DK district PU college principals' union and lecturers and non-teaching staff union. It will be a state-wide indefinite strike by PU lecturers with the support of Karnataka state PU lecturers' union, Bangalore and co-ordination committee.
On the days of the strike, lecturers will register their attendance but boycott classes. On December 9, an appeal will be submitted to the DC in respective districts. The lecturers will continue the strike till leaders in the union call it off.
Office-bearers of the union Viresh, Jagajevandas Bhandary, Vasudev Kamath, Shankarnarayan Nayak, Ronald, Roopaksha among others were present at the press meet.