15,000 teachers court arrest
25-day strike nears end

Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 4 — Notwithstanding the mass courting of arrest by thousands of teachers in the Capital, a compromise between the striking university and college teachers and the HRD Ministry appears to be in sight with the two sides describing their talks today as "satisfactory".

The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation (AIFUCTO) and the HRD Secretary, Mr P R Dasgupta, today held talks to sort out the difference over the implementation of the UGC recommended pay scales.

The HRD Ministry has formulated a set of proposals based on the discussions held with teachers for their consideration. The striking teachers affiliated with the AIFUCTO have called an executive meeting later tonight to discuss the proposals.

According to a section of teachers, the strike may be called off as they might not get a better offer from the government than what has been proposed.

Sources said that the government would take up with the Cabinet the fixation of pay scales for those who on January 1, 1996, were selection grade lecturers/readers in certain categories of colleges. These would be fixed at a minimum of Rs 14,940 as and when they complete five years in the grade. The enhanced scales would be implemented from January 1, 1996.

The government has indicated that it would discuss with the UGC before finalising the question of adjusting the total number of years of service along with service in the immediate feeder grade for promotion.

A professional development incentive scheme for those lecturers who register for M.Phil/Ph.D and whose research is considered satisfactory by their guides will be evolved after discussions with the UGC.

Those teachers who do not have M.Phil or Ph.D but have made outstanding contribution in teaching and research, would be rewarded and recognised as meritorious by the government, sources said, adding that a suggestion to this effect was made by the UGC and it was being examined by the government.

Sources indicated that the HRD ministry would take a decision expeditiously on the problems of part time teachers and the scales to be given to demonstrators, instructors, coaches, accompanists and teachers in performing arts.

Official sources indicated that the HRD Ministry would request the state governments as a goodwill gesture to not take any punitive action like pay cuts against striking teachers.

The striking teachers indicated that they held talks on the major contentious issues like upward revision of the entry point scales of lecturer, senior lecturer, third assured promotion and funding to the extent of 100 per cent from January 1, 1996 to March 31, 1998.

Earlier in the day, thousands of teachers marched from Ramlila Grounds to Parliament to express their anguish over the continued delay in the implementation of the UGC recommended pay scales.

About 15,000 teachers courted arrest in waves when they were stopped by the police near Parliament Street police station.

Of the 30,000 teachers who took part in the march, teachers from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh comprised the largest contingent.

Addressing the rally the leader of the teachers’ body indicated that they might not get a better deal from the government.

The president of AIFUCTO, Mr K K Theckedath, told the striking teachers that there had to be some "compromise" in the demands to arrive at any settlement.

The former Union Home Minister, Mr Inderjit Gupta, addressing the teachers, expressed his solidarity with the academic community.

"Your agitation is just and we would extend all possible support to your movement," he said.

The former Prime Minister, Mr V P Singh, also expressed his sympathy with the teachers and hoped that a way out would be found soon.

Around four lakh teachers across the country have been on strike for the past 25 days demanding among other things implementation of UGC recommended pay scales.