University teachers stage stir to press 11-point charter of demands

“Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations has been around for a while but we have revved it again to bring all the forced together to fight for our cause. Our first demand is we want implementation of the 7th UGC pay revision recommendations after consultation with teachers’ organizations. 

This apart, we want 100 % financial assistance for uniform and simultaneous implementation of the 7th pay scale commission,” said Arul Aram, President of  TANFUFA. The demand included that all the teachers in  the universities and colleges who are in part-time or temporary positions should be included in the pay scale. 

“A scheme was introduced to replace the pension scheme but there are teachers who haven’t received their dues. We want that to be rejected and want the anomalies in the sixth pay scale to be done away with,” he said. The association also wanted the government to stop the budget cut on education sector.  

“We feel there is a drive to get rid of the existing University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). These must be strengthened and agencies like Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) and Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency (HEERA) should be withdrawn,” said Arul Aram.