Varsity Faculties' Stir Plan Deferred

BHUBANESWAR: Faculty members of all the eight State Government-run universities have decided to postpone their agitation over promotion, superannuation and salary demands.

Under the aegis of Federation of Odisha University Teachers Association (FOUTA), they had threatened to start dharna at their respective institutions from May 1, which has now been postponed to June.

S K Tripathy, convenor of FOUTA, said the faculty members met Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy and Secretary of the Department G K Dhal, who assured them that their demands will be fulfilled at the earliest. The   issue of enhancing the age of retirement will also be taken up with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, they said.

“We have taken up the demands with the State Government several times in the past but in vain. If the Government does not consider our demands by May-end, we will begin our strike from June,” said Tripathy.