A day after college students were stopped from appearing their practical exams, the non-teaching staff under the banner of Jharkhand State University and College Employees’ Federation on Tuesday decided to continue the strike in a peaceful manner by allowing students for the examinations.
Several students had to return home without appearing their commerce and zoology practical in constituent colleges under Kolhan University as the protesting staff locked the college gates.
On Tuesday practical examinations of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science were held without any dilemma.
Vishambhar Yadav, zonal secretary, Jharkhand State University and College Employees’ Federation, said that the students are allowed to appear the exams because they are not responsible for the plight of the staff.
He added that almost all the non teaching staff of colleges affiliated to Kolhan University remained on strike and displayed their unity in favor of their demands. Administrative works were hampered in Jamshedpur Cooperative College, Jamshedpur Worker’s College and lal Bahadur Shastri College.
It may be noted that the non-teaching staffs of the university and colleges in Jharkhand went on strike twice in 2007, in support of their 20-point charter of demands. The academic scenario was badly affected due to the strike. Their three main demands are Sixth Pay Commission benefits, increase of the retirement age ceiling and promotion twice a year.
The strike which has been ongoing since February 19 was in three phases that started with demonstration in universities on March 12. Non-teaching employees at six cradles - Jamshedpur Women’s College, Jamshedpur Co-operative College, Jamshedpur Worker’s College, lBSM College, ABM College and Graduate School College for Women remained on strike.