Dharna by teachers planned

[sajiv]

Dharna by teachers planned

TIRUCHI: The Aided College Teachers' Association (ACTA) and the Government College Teachers' Manram (GCTM) have decided to hold a State-level centralised dharna in Tiruchi on September 5 to impress upon the State Government to implement the new UGC scales.

Urging the UGC to issue the new regulations pertaining to the new pay scales at the earliest, the two teacher associations decided at a recent meeting of their coordination committee to follow up the dharna with a fast programme in Chennai on September 12.

The meeting was presided over by P. Xavier Pitchaiah, ACTA president and Kanagadurai, GCTM president.
Meetings

On the day of the fast programme, the ACTA and the GCTA will convene the meetings of their general council and executive council respectively, to assess the situation and take an appropriate action, including arriving at a decision to go on an indefinite strike.

In a press release, ACTA-GCTM Coordination Committee secretary A. Raja pointed out that the revised scale for college and university teachers was announced by the Ministry of Human Resources Development through its notifications on December 31, 2008, January 27, 2009, and June 4, 2009, advising the State governments to initiate immediate action.
Arrear grant partially released

For implementing the scheme in a time bound manner, the MHRD had already released 40 per cent of the arrear grant.
Teachers agitated

College and university teachers were highly agitated and any further delay in the implementation of the revised pay scales was unacceptable, Dr. Raja said, hoping that the Government will respond positively to their demand, referring to its stand to grant three months salary in advance as interim relief.