Protesting Guest Lecturers sell Bajji, Bonda; Students join stir

Mysuru: The Guest Lecturers of Government First Grade Colleges, who are on an indefinite stir since Dec.10 seeking regularisation of services and job security, marked their 14th day of protest on Friday by selling refreshments such as Bajji, Bonda and Tea in front of the DC’s office, the venue of the protest.

Lashing out at the Government for being apathetic to their just demands, the Guest Lecturers raised slogans against the Government. Alleging that the Government has turned a blind eye to their plight, the protestors claimed that a few Guest Lecturers had committed suicide for failing to maintain family out of the meagre wages.

Urging the Government to consider their demands at the earliest, they warned of intensifying the stir if their demands are not met at the earliest.

Former MLA M.K. Somashekar, KPCC Spokesperson Manjula Manasa, former faculty Prof. Kalachannegowda, Kannada Sahitya Parishat District President Maddikere Gopal, former President M. Chandrashekar and other leaders visited the venue to express support for the stir.

Students too stage protest

Expressing solidarity with the striking Guest Lecturers, over a hundred students under the banner of  Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a demonstration near the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Dec. 24.

Pointing out that they are deprived of classes due to the stir, which has hurt their studies and academics, they urged the Government to regularise the services of Guest Lecturers in the interest of students. Maintaining that 60 percent of the teaching faculty in Government Colleges were guest faculty, they said that the stir has severely affected teaching and will jeopardize their performance in exams.

Accusing the State Government of introducing NEP (National Education Policy) in a hurry, they claimed that it was introduced sans any preparations and curriculum. They urged the Government to reconsider its implementation in the interest of students.

SFI office-bearers Vijaykumar, Anand, H.N. Yashwanth, T.M. Harshith and others took part in the protest.