Non-teaching staff of state universities hold demonstration outside Raj Bhawan
RANCHI/DHANBAD: Hundreds of non-teaching staff of all seven state universities and colleges held a demonstration outside the Governor House in the state, and began two-day sit-in protest in support of their long-pending demands on Wednesday.
The agitating non-teaching staff took out procession from Ranchi University campus under banner of Jharkhand State University-Colleges NonTeaching Federation (JSUCNTF), and held a massive demonstration at the gate of the Governor House before sitting on dharna. They also submitted a memorandum to the Chancellor of Universities (Governor) regarding their demands.
“If even after this two-day (December 5-6) Dharna, the department of higher education of state does not wake up, all non-teaching staff would go on indefinite strike,” said Anil Kumar, general secretary of JSUCNTF.
Following agitation of nonteaching staff at Raj Bhawan, classes and office functions at all seven universities and colleges across the state remained paralysed on Wednesday.
The state non-teaching staff have been agitating since November 17. On November 27, they were on mass leave and staged dharna at their respective university and college cam- pus. They had also resolved to hold two- day dharna at Governor House.
“The Supreme Court has ruled to provide all facilities to non-teaching staff of universities and colleges at par with the state government staff, but higher education department authorities were yet to implement the order. Moreover, they have also been sitting on the 5th pay commission scale of staff,” said the general secretary.
Main demands of non-teaching staff federation are extension of retirement age to 62 from 60 years, at par with Bihar nonteaching staff, Dynamic Assure Career Progression (DACP) and Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) at par with state government staff.
Federation leader claimed that before division of Bihar their retirement age was 62 years but after creation of Jharkhand, state government fixed it to 60 years. Bihar has still maintained retirement age of 62 years for these staff, claimed federation leader.
Agitating non-teaching staff complained that not a single university in state provides regular promotion to non-teaching staff, which becomes due on every five years. “Unfortunately, most of the university as well as colleges in the state have no head clerk or chief accountant. Junior assistant is made to work on the post for a minimum payment,” said Anil Kumar.