Guest lecturers call off stir after acting VC’s promise

Mysore/Mysuru: Following an assurance from acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of University of Mysore (UoM) Prof. H. Rajashekar to fulfil the demands, the guest lecturers of the Varsity who were on an indefinite strike called it off on the fourth day of the protest on Saturday.

Boycotting their work, hundreds of guest lecturers were on strike under the aegis of Mysore VV Atiti Upanyasakara Balaga (Association of Guest Lecturers of UoM) since Wednesday (Jan. 4) staging a sit-in demonstration in front of Kuvempu statue at the main entrance of Manasagangothri, the PG campus of the varsity. They were demanding for the implementation of revised pay scale along with several other facilities.

The acting VC chaired a meeting at the Crawford Hall, which was attended by various leaders including legislators and others, where it was eventually decided to address the demands raised by the said agitators.

MLA N. Mahesh who also attended the meeting said, “The University of Mysore Syndicate had ratified the decision to pay in compliance with the revised band, at its meeting held six months ago. However, the Higher Education Department had stalled the order citing technical reasons. The Department officials were wary over the possibilities of guest faculty in other Varsities seeking similar pay, if the decision of University of Mysore was considered, as it will have a cascading effect on the State’s exchequer”.

Hence, the Varsity had formed a sub-committee involving its Finance Officer and Syndicate members six months ago. Even the sub-committee had made similar recommendations.

Mahesh added that the acting VC finally consented to effect the decision on revised pay, after he was convinced over mobilising the resources, along with the Registrar and Finance Officer, to check the possible burden on the State’s coffers.

A delegation of elected representatives from this part of the region will be apprising the Higher Education Department Officials over the outcome of the meeting. On the other hand, the acting VC will also be writing to the Government and bring to the notice, the impact on academic activities due to the protest.