The University and college teachers of Uttarakhand donned black arm bands on Wednesday and observed ‘Demand Day’. The apex body of teachers, the All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (AIFUCTO) had given a national wide protest call to put pressure on Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) to share the 7th University Grants Commission (UGC) Pay Review Report (PRR). More than 300 teachers belonging to 13 aided colleges of the state participated in the protest.
The General Secretary of Garhwal University and college Teachers Association (GRUTA), D K Tyagi said the MHRD has broken all previous traditions and is maintaining an unprecedented secrecy on PRR. He said that attack on autonomy, freedom of expression and expression of dissent and culture of protest are increasing day by day in the campus. An AIFUCTO communiqué says that the huge cut in budget, cut in scholarships and research grants and lacks of vacant posts in universities and colleges are very vital issues before nation. Issues of ad-hoc teachers, teachers in self finance courses and guest teachers are the main concern to be addressed as earliest, it further added.
In a letter directed to all teachers, the General Secretary of the AIFUCTO, Arun Kumar said, “Protection of democratic rights and right of protest of all stake holders in campuses are being severely attacked. Pro people education policy is the need of this phase of democratic India. If one GST is possible for business class in the country, why not uniform education system for all in the poor country like IndiaIJ’’ The teachers have threatened to go on an all India strike if their demands are not addressed soon.