Nationwide strike by teachers off
FEDCUTA to decide today

NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (PTI) — The 26-day old nation-wide strike by university and college teachers was called off tonight following negotiations with the government on their demands for implementation of UGC recommended pay scales, it was officially announced.

A spokesperson of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry said that representatives of the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organistion (AIFUCTO) had met HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and conveyed their decision to resume duty from Monday.

AIFUCTO leader M. Bhattacharya said the strike had been called off following their talks with the minister.

However, secretary to Federation of Central University Teachers Association (FEDCUTA) M. Rais Khan said his organisation was yet to take a decision on calling off the strike.

"As far as we are concerned, a meeting has been fixed at Jamia Milia Islamia tomorrow and any decisions on the strike will be taken after discussion on the draft proposal presented by the ministry to various teachers’ federations," he said.

Mr Bhattcharya said the AIFUCTO, with a membership of four lakh teachers, called off the stir as the government conceded its two major demands — simultaneous implementation of the revised pay scales across the country and the benefit of third promotion.

He said AIFUCTO has asked the teachers to put in extra hours during holidays and vacations to make up for the academic loss suffered by the students.

Mr Shriram Oberoi, president of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) said his organisation, which was holding the agitation in a phased manner, had already called off the strike on September 2.

Meanwhile, ministry sources said pay for selection grade lecturers and readers would be fixed at a scale of Rs 14,940 with effect from January 1, 1996.

General secretary of the AIFUCTO Mrinmoy Bhattacharya told UNI that they reached a three-tier agreement with the minister before deciding to call off their nearly month-long strike.

The agreement established that though there would be no change in the general pay scale as announced by the Fifth Pay Commission, the government would take up the issue of fixation of pay scales for selection grade lecturers and readers, selected strictly in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms in consultation with the government. In the process, the government rejected their demand for implementation of the UGC pay scales.

The other prominent features of the agreement were to introduce a new scheme of incentive for teachers undertaking research work, simultaneous implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission pay scale all over the country and payment of arrears in a single instalment.

The government, in turn, expected that teachers would immediately join duty and would make up for the lost studies of students.

According to the agreement, the central government would not take any punitive action, including pay cut, against striking teachers and would also expect same from the state governments as a goodwill gesture, if the protesting party resumed its work immediately.

The central government also agreed to provide financial assistance to states to the extent of 80 per cent of additional expenses and directed that the remaining amount would be borne by the respective state governments from their own resources.

The minister, however, expressed concern over the result of stoppage of work by the college and university teachers which resulted in serious setback to the studies of students. He told the AIFUCTO representatives during the discussions that the government expected that the teachers would take immediate steps and speedy action not only to resume work but also to make up for the lost work and studies.

Stating that the central government did not take any punitive action against any of the teachers in respect of the ongoing strike, the minister said that he expected the state governments would also as a gesture of goodwill not take any such action including pay-cut, in the event of the teachers joining duty immediately.

The government agreed to take up the issues of implementation of enhanced scales with effect from January 1, 1996 with the cabinet, the agreement stated adding that it was further agreed that the question relating to the adjustment of the total number of years of service along with service in the immediate feeder grade of promotion would be further discussed and finalised in consultation with the UGC.

"The government would also be willing to consider the evolution of a scheme of professional development incentive in the form of cash allowance or assistance in kind or both to those lecturers who register for M. Phil/Ph.D and whose pursuit of research is considered satisfactory by their grade," the agreement disclosed.

It said the nature and the details of the scheme would be discussed and finalised in consultation with the UGC.

The government has also declared that the UGC would prepare a specific scheme in consultation with the government to reward and recognise meritorious teachers who may not be M.Phil or Ph.D, but who have made outstanding contributions in teaching and research. A preliminary communication indicating the views of the AIFUCTO in this respect has been received from the UGC.

The scheme as finally formulated by the UGC would be expeditiously cleared by the government and in any case within four weeks from the receipt of the finally formulated proposal from the UGC, it was agreed.

The government promised that in cooperation of the teachers’ organisations it would take expeditious decisions on issues like problems relating to part-time teachers, the scales to be given to demonstrators/tutors, instructors, coaches, accompanists and teachers performing arts or visual arts. These issues were under discussion with the UGC.

"The government desires that the scheme of pay revision should be implemented simultaneously in all the states and that the arrears should be paid in one instalment," it was stated during the meeting.

Towards this, the government has agreed to provide financial assistance to the states to the extent of 80 per cent of additional expenses and the remaining amount would be borne by the states from their own resources.

In case any state government had any special or immediate difficulty in implementation of the scheme, the central government would look into their difficulties sympathetically, it was decided.

The government would also accord its required clearances to the UGC regulations immediately, the agreement said, adding that all other issues raised by the AIFUCTO would be discussed along with the UGC with a view to their speedy resolution.

The proposals were put forward after daylong talks between various teachers organisations, Mr Joshi and Education Secretary P.R. Dasgupta, they said.

FEDCUTA secretary Khan said the proposed draft would be placed tomorrow before the executive committee meeting of his organisation.

He said FEDCUTA had reservation over the issues of research allowance as the government has not specified the period and quantum of the amount.

Ignoring indications of a possible solution to the three-week-old strike by university and college teachers, the teaching community today observed Teachers' Day as "black day".

The executive meeting of the AIFUCTO yesterday witnessed a heated debate on the offer made by the government with many teachers arguing in favour of calling off the strike.

Earlier, Dr Joshi had stated that he would hold discussions with the teachers only after they called off the strike.

The package offered by the HRD Ministry, the AIFUCTO members said, was "much better" and added that "some differences" still remain to be sorted out.

The Ministry also indicated that it would request the state governments not to take any punitive action such as pay-cut, gap in service against the striking teachers.

Meanwhile, teachers wore black badges to protest against the non-implementation of the UGC recommended scales by the government. Teachers went around the campus to highlight their grievances.

BATHINDA: The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has urged the teaching community to restore the credibility of government educational institutions, especially in remote areas so that poor students can excel in studies and take part in various competitive exams.

Addressing a state level Teachers Day function after honouring 20 outstanding school teachers here today, the Chief Minister said in today's competitive world, availability of equal opportunities for studies was essential for the youth. As per information, no students from schools in rural areas could get admission in any course of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, as they could not even get qualifying marks in entrance tests.

The Punjab Government was making efforts for creating a new work culture and world class working environment for teachers who were, in real terms, the builders of the country. Schools were being equipped with required infrastructure and repair and renovation of school buildings was being done. He urged the teachers to work with commitment, sincerity, dedication and honesty to make the children perfect human beings in their lives.

Lauding the role of teachers in nation-building activities Mr Badal said that they had the responsibility of shaping the destiny of young minds. The teacher, therefore, must become an ideal and role model to infuse the spirit of humanism, secularism and dedication among children, besides imparting quality education to them.

Paying rich tributes to Dr S. Radhakrishnan, the former President of India whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers Day, the Chief Minister said this g reat thinker had made significant contribution to the nation, especially in restructuring the education system.

Defending the state government's decision of introducing English as a subject of the primary schools of Punjab, Mr Badal said it was the age of competition and it was very essential to equip our children with this international language. He made it clear that it would not erode Punjabi language in any way and its status would be maintained at all costs.

Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, while highlighting the steps taken by the present government in the educational field, claimed that revolutionary changes had been made to suit the changing needs of society. The government was legally examining a proposal under which teachers would be made to retire in March every year so that there was no loss of academic time. Transfers of teachers would be done only from April to June, so that they could uninterruptedly teach the students from July 1 to March 31. To eliminate the practice of copying in exams, question papers of five different colours would be set.

Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, Mr Charanji Lal, Mr Swarna Ram (both ministers), Mr Chetan Singh Samaon, MP, and Mr Makhan Singh, MLA, also spoke.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented.

LUDHIANA: Teachers of Punjab Agricultural University have condemned the state Audit Department for withholding their salaries for August.

Dr R.K. Batra, president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), flayed the Deputy Comptroller (Local Audit) for implementing the 'no work, no pay' norm.

AMRITSAR: A massive rally was held in front of the OPD of GND Hospital to mark Teachers Day. The rally was attended by about 1000 medical and dental teachers, PCMS doctors, junior residents and students of Government Medical College and Dental College.

The protesters criticised the poor working conditions and lack of infrastructure for teaching and training/diagnosing patients.

They resolved to paralyse outdoor, indoor and operation theatre work from September 10 to 12 to force government to announce the new pay scales for medical teachers.

PHAGWARA: On a call given by the All-India Federation of College and University Teachers Organisations, private college teachers in the town observed Teachers Day as 'black day'. They wore black badges, performed 'siapa' against HRD Minister M.M. Joshi and held demonstrations.

The teachers also flayed Doordarshan for blacking out their rally in the Saturday night news.

SONEPAT: The striking college teachers of Sonepat and Gohana observed Teachers' Day as 'black day' in protest against the failure of the government to accept their demands. They wore black badges and shouted slogans against the government. The teachers also continued their dharna. Teaching work remained paralysed in all parts of the city.

FATEHABAD: Need to improve the teacher-pupil relationship was stressed at a symposum, organised at DAV Centenary Public School here on Saturday.

The symposium, "Deterioration in teacher-pupil relations — causes and remedies", was organised to mark Teachers Day.

The symposium provided an opportunity to students to interact with their teachers. Teachers and students discussed the causes for the widening gap between the teacher and the taught. Questions regarding the deterioration in relations between the two were also discussed on the occasion.

HISAR: The teachers of Guru Jambeshwar University here observed Teachers' Day as hunger day' on Saturday in protest against delay in implementation of UGC recommendations regarding their pay scales.

A spokesman for the teachers said none of them ate food today. However, they took classes as usual.

The teachers of the university have been taking their classes and have not participated in the nationwide strike though to express solidarity with the striking teachers they have been wearing black badges.

ROHTAK: Majority of the teachers of Model School here observed Teachers Day as 'protest day' to register their protest over the functioning of the school under the new director.

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh University teachers took out a procession on Saturday and wore black badges to mark Teachers Day as 'black day'.

The teachers gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office in the morning and later held a rally on Summerhill Chowk.

NAUNI (KASAULI): Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Teachers Association (UHFTA), in a message sent to the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, has expressed gratitude to the Human Resource Development Ministry for the endorsement of its demands.

Dr R.K. Nyital, president of the UHFTA, in a press note issued here on Saturday said the teachers were demanding pay package on a par with Group A government officers. At a meeting held on Friday, the association had decided to go on a fast if its demands were not accepted by September 8.

The day was observed as 'black day. A rally and dharna was also organised against the non-acceptance of demands.