Next week’s Cabinet meet, probably the last before the Election Commission’s model code of conduct kicks in, is the last ray of hope for about 2,000 teaching and 1,000 non-teaching staffs of 55 permanent affiliated colleges of Jharkhand.
They have been on strike since December 16 last demanding the status of ‘constituent’ status for their colleges or availability of ‘deficit grant’. They have been staging ‘indefinite dharna’ near the Governor House since February 6.
According to the leader of the teachers, Dr Narendra Kumar Singh, their demands had been approved by the Cabinet in December 2011 and again in 2012 but never implemented.
“On February 27, the Chief Minister assured us to double the grant given by the State Government. The word ‘assurance’ is what we have been given for past many years. During the ongoing strike period, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, State Finance Minister Rajendra Prasad, State HRD Minister Geetashree Oraon and JMM chief Shibu Soren had assured us to take up our issue for consideration. Unfortunately, nothing was done,” Singh said.
Singh pointed out, “We are waiting for the upcoming Cabinet meet scheduled next week. Hopefully, the Minister would announce something in our support. If they do not, we will return to our respective colleges but continue the strike by locking our colleges and will not cooperate in upcoming election process. For long, we have thought about the well-being of students. It is high time to think about our own life as most of us are on the verge of retirement.”
Singh also said the State Government had constituted a coordination committee to enquire the issues related to the demands of these teachers. “This committee has submitted its report to HRD department months back. Final approval is awaited,” he said.
The list of 55 permanent affiliated colleges comprise 29 colleges under Vinoba Bhave University , 12 colleges of Sido Kanhu Murmu University, six colleges of Ranchi University, five colleges of Nilamber Pitamber University and three colleges of Kolhan University.
Significantly, no new announcement can be made by the government after the Model Code of Conduct comes into force.