BHUBANESWAR: Faculty members of eight State Government-run universities will resort to cease-work from August 29 protesting anomalies in their pay structure and promotion.
At least 2,000 faculty members of Utkal University, Berhampur University, Sambalpur University, Fakir Mohan University, North Odisha University, Ravenshaw University, BPUT and OUAT will sport black badges on August 9 and sit on one-day dharna at PMG Square here on August 17. They will resort to cease-work for an indefinite period from August 29, if their demands are not fulfilled by then.
They alleged that though University Grants Commission (UGC) had revised pay structure for university teachers in 2010 and directed for implementation of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and re-designation of teachers in 2008, the State Government is yet to implement them.
As pay rules have not been notified by Odisha Government, faculty members in none of the universities have received promotion benefits under CAS since December, 2008. Besides, as per UGC norms, university teachers need to be re-designated as assistant professor and associate professor in place of lecturer and reader respectively.
Informing this to mediapersons on Tuesday, faculty members, under the aegis of Federation of Odisha University Teachers Association (FOUTA), said while the superannuation age of university teachers in other States as well as in medical colleges, Central University and IIT-Bhubaneswar has been enhanced from 60 to 65, this has not been done in case of State universities.
“Neither is the Government filling up the vacant teaching posts nor giving the overburdened teachers any incentive. Although we have taken up the demands with the Government at least 10 times in the past, it has not paid any heed,” said SK Tripathy, Convenor of FOUTA.
Earlier in May, the association members had threatened of cease-work prior to the admissions in junior and degree colleges and the State Government had assured them to take up the demands except the superannuation issue. “However, nothing was done by the Government,” Tripathy said.
Around 30 to 40 per cent of teaching posts in eight Government universities are lying vacant. Existing teachers also have to look into administrative work as non-teaching posts are lying vacant.
The faculty members said they would take up their demands with the Syndicates in their respective universities this month and decisions taken would be forwarded to the State Government for consideration.