Seeking pay hike, guest faculty of govt. PU colleges and schools to launch ‘Belagavi Chalo’ protest on December 17 and 18

Guest faculties working in government PU colleges, government primary and high schools will hold ‘Belagavi Chalo’ protest on December 17 and 18 demanding hike of ₹30,000 in monthly remuneration, job security, and other benefits.

Guest lecturers of PU colleges have decided to boycott classes and hold protest rallies at Belagavi, where the legislature session is under way, on December 17 under the Government Pre-university Colleges Guest Lecturers’ Association. On December 18, guest teachers of primary and high schools will hold protest under the Karnataka State Government Primary and High School Guest Teachers’ Association.

Number of guest teachers

There are about 48,000 government primary and high schools across the State and against the vacancies of teacher posts, about 43,000 guest teachers were recruited for the academic year 2024-25. A monthly remuneration of ₹10,000 is being given to primary school guest teachers and ₹10,500 to high school guest teachers.

There are a total of 1,232 government PU colleges across the State, and 4,689 guest lecturers are working here. They are being given a monthly remuneration of ₹12,000.

“As per the government rules, all guest lecturers are MA-B.Ed, MSc-B.Ed, or M.Com-B.Ed graduates and they are getting only ₹12,000 per month as remuneration. Due to the shortage of lecturers, they teach for about 20 hours a week, exceeding the government rules. The government should immediately increase the remuneration of guest lecturers in PU colleges to ₹30,000 per month,” demanded Rajesh Bhat, State secretary, Government Pre-university Colleges Guest Lecturers’ Association.

Earlier, during the BJP government, guest lecturers working in Government First Grade Colleges went on indefinite strike demanding increase in remuneration. In 2022, the State government increased their remuneration in the range between ₹26,000 and ₹32,000 per month.

At the same time, it ordered increase in the remuneration of government primary school guest teachers from ₹7,500 to ₹10,000, the remuneration of high school guest teachers from ₹8,000 to ₹10,500, and remuneration of guest lecturers in PU colleges from ₹9,000 to ₹12,000 per month.

However, in December 2023, guest lecturers of Government First Grade Colleges launched another indefinite strike demanding remuneration hike and fulfilment of other demands. At this time, the government decided to increase remuneration by ₹5,000. But, the protesters did not agree to this and continued the protest.

Then on January 7, 2024, the government announced an increase in remuneration from ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 for guest lecturers of degree colleges based on experience and a lump sum amount of ₹5 lakh as retirement benefit, and other benefits.

Ignored section

However, despite several requests for the past one year, it has ignored the demand for increase in remuneration for guest lecturers in PU colleges and guest teachers in primary and high schools in the State.

“As per the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, the government is paying remuneration of ₹10,000 and ₹10,500 for the guest teachers of primary and high schools. However, all State government employees are already being paid as per the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission,” said Chitralekha, State president, Karnataka State Government Primary and High School Guest Teachers’ Association.

“There is no difference between guest lecturers of government first-grade colleges and guest lecturers of PU colleges, except for qualifying in Ph.D or NET or KSET eligibility. However, the government has ignored us by giving guest lecturers of government first-grade colleges an increase in remuneration along with other benefits. Lecturers of government PU colleges should also be provided with retirement benefits, life insurance and other facilities along with an increase in remuneration,” Mr. Bhatt demanded.

Published - December 11, 2024 09:56 pm IST