From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 3: With the annual final examinations for Pre-University Course scheduled to commence on March 9, lecturers of the State Government runPre-University colleges have decided to stage a protest on March 4 to draw the government’s attention to their demands.
PU lecturers have threatened to boycott evaluation of II PUC answer scripts if the State Government fails to concede their demand for grant of pay-scales on par with degree college lecturers.
Rectifying the pay anomalies and clearing pending promotions are among the two major demands of the PU lecturers.
The protest will be held in front of the Gandhi statue in the city, the Karnataka State PU Lecturers’ Association has announced.
The Association President Thimmaiah Purle said, "It is just a one-day protest. If the State Government fails to respond to our demands, we may consider boycotting evaluation work."
Office-bearers of the Karnataka PU Lecturers’ Association on Friday held a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Primary and Secondary Education Minister TanvirSait and presented a memorandum to the State Government seeking pay parity.
However, the talks failed as the Chief Minister said the issue of pay-scale would be referred to the next Pay Commission to be constituted by the Government.
The State exchequer would have to dole out Rs 28 crore annually to concede to their demand, Association President said. The last revision took place during the sixth pay commission in 2012.
He said the PU lecturers would stage a protest at the Gandhi statue at Ananda Rao Circle in the City on Saturday opposing the Government lackadaisical attitude.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio, has not given any assurance of looking into lecturers’ demands, Purle said and pointed out that Siddaramaiah simply said all demands would be referred to the 7th pay commission of the State Government.
The Association has been claiming that while lecturers in degree colleges were given time-bound promotions, those in pre-university colleges were given only two time-bound increments during their entire service period.