Friends, Greetings, At the very outset let us extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to all of you for making both the programmes ...
At the very outset let us extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to all of you for making both the programmes i.e., ‘Justice Day’on July 12 and Rally and March to Parliament on 24 July, 2017 a grand success. We feel strengthened at the way our affiliates expressed their unity and solidarity. The movement witnessed teachers’ solidarity rising to a level unheard of in recent times. The angst and exasperation of the teachers found expression in the huge turn up that took place at Jantar Mantar on July 24, 2017 followed by a March to Parliament Street. Teachers from all parts of India, from far flung North East to Gujarat, from Kanyakumari to Himachal Pradesh, assembled to protest against the apathy of the central government towards issues related to their basic livelihood demands and career options. Large turnup of teachers from neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan helped turn the programme into a mega event. AIFUCTO felt emboldened to take up future struggles and fight at the zeal and enthusiasm of the young teachers. The programme saw teachers raising slogans in favour of 100% financial support of central government to states for uniform and simultaneous implementation of Seventh Pay UGC recommendations. The teachers vehemently protested and expressed their concern on the recent central government moves towards corporatisation, bureaucratisation and privatisation of higher education; attempt to do away with the UGC and other longstanding institutions, categorisation of universities etc. It was evident from the mood of the teachers present at the gathering on July 24, 2017 that they are appalled and feel insecure about the present state of affairs prevailing in the higher education and research in India. AIFUCTO felt reassured by the support teachers from all over the country once again reposed on it. The Delhi rally and march was a huge success in the face of a claustrophobic situation where teachers are being denied any support from the central government which is continuously engaged in creating anti- teacher and student unfriendly measures.
Support by Political Parties and MPs :
The rally saw many MPs and leaders of different political parties, expressing their concern for the teachers’ cause. The MPs included D.Raja (CPI), A Sampath CPI(M), Ali Anwar (JDU), T. Meinya (Congress), Prabhash Singh (BJD), A V Swami (Independent), Sadhu Singh (AAP) & CPI General Secretary Com. S.Sudhakar Reddy, Com.Nilotpal Basu Ex-MP and AITUC Secretary Com. Amarjeet Kaur also expressed their solidarity with teachers’ struggle. AIFUCTO expresses its gratitude to FEDCUTA and AIFRUCTO for rendering full support and cooperation to the movement.
Meeting at Jantar-Mantar :
The meeting was presided over by AIFUCTO President Prof. Kesab Bhattachrya. AIFUCTO General Secretary Prof. Arun Kumar, FEDCUTA & DUTA President Prof Nandita Narayan, Prof. D.Kumar, Treasurer, AIFUCTO, Prof. G. Parthasarthy, GS, AIFRUCTO, Prof Asok Barman, Prof. Tarun Patra, Prof. Shrutinath Praharaj, Prof. Vivek Dwibedi, Prof Mahadeo Desai, along with all other important leaders from all the states addressed the gathering.
March to Parliament :
The meeting was followed by a march by the teachers to Parliament. Teachers of different states with their banners & posters started march to parliament at 2pm. They presented a real spectrum of unity in diversity of India. Participation of large number of women teachers were the main attraction of the Rally & March. Teachers were shouting slogans for publication and implementation of 7th UGC pay revision recommendations, 100% financial assistance for uniform & simultaneous implementation, Regularisation of Temporary/Adhoc teachers, Scrapping of API and Extension of dates for RC/OC, Old pension scheme for all teachers, Removal of anomalies in 6th pay scale, No budget cut on education, Strengthen UGC & AICTE, Stop commercialisation, corporatisation and centralisation of education and regular dialogue with AIFUCTO and FEDCUTA. However the march could not be completed as teachers were stopped near parliament police station. The teachers sat on Dharna for two hours on the main road and addresses by dozen of teacher leaders were going on while a delegation comprising of Prof. Kesab Bhattacharya, Prof. Arun Kumar, Prof. Nandita Narayan and Prof. G.Parthasarthy met Shri K K Sharma, Secretary, MHRD and submitted a memorandum citing their demands.
NEC Meeting and Decisions :
AIFUCTO National Executive Committee met on 24th July, 2017 in evening at Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi and expressed satisfaction over the historical rally and march to Parliament. NEC noted the massive presence of teachers from almost all states of the country and was overwhelmed by the support they lent to the programme. The NEC of AIFUCTO criticised the anti-teacher and non-academic attitude of the Government and criticised the HRD Minister for not sparing even half an hour time to meet and hear the delegation. It was unanimously decided at the NEC that the agitation against central government would continue unabated.
Followings are the decisions taken by the NEC:
1. University & College teachers of the country shall observe "Black Day" on 22 August 2017. They will either sit on Dharna or take out procession in every state capital against the apathetic attitude of the government.
2. On 5th September, 2017, on “Teachers Day", teachers from all over India will assemble in Delhi for Court Arrest. Teachers in large number from every state will assemble at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.After meeting they will take out a procession for court arrest. AIFUCTO appeals to its affiliates / teachers from adjoining states of Delhi to turn up in large number for making the programme effective & successful.
3. After NEC, Secretariat of AIFUCTO discussed in details the different proposals for Statutory Conference of AIFUCTO to be held at the end of this year and finalised the proposal given by Savitriwai Phule Pune University & College Teachers' Organisation (SPPUCTO). The venue of the Statutory Conference will be at Shridih (Maharashtra).Other details of the conference with dates will be conveyed very soon after Organising Committee meeting.
4. NEC decided that in the meantime if any notification would come regarding 7th UGC pay scale,a meeting of AIFUCTO office bearers would be called immediately to analyse the notification and also to take appropriate decisions for future.
5. NEC also decided to grant affiliation to :
a. Inder Kumar Gujral Punjab Technical University Welfare Teachers’ Association,(IKGPTUWTA), Jallandhar (Punjab).
b. Central Institute for Buddhist Studies Teachers’ Association (CIBSTA), Leh- Ladhakh(J&K)
NEC once again expresses its gratitude for the full solidarity and cooperation extended by FEDCUTA and AIFRUCTO to our movement. AIFUCTO also extends heartfelt thanks to different political parties and trade unions for supporting AIFUCTO’s agitation programmes.
Appeal for funds :
NEC makes earnest appeal to its affiliates/ members for sending struggle fund and membership for strengthening the agitation and struggle in future.
Friends, we are at a critical juncture. Government is trying all out to throttle the autonomy of higher education.It is the intention of the government to make complete centralisation of higher education and turn higher education a lucrative field of investment of corporate capital, a move that will only deprive many students and teachers towards pursuing higher education. The changes are clearly aimed to put an end to the public funded education system in India. In such dark and gloomy times, our solidarity alone can help us achieve our legitimate demands and save Indian higher education from imminent collapse.
AIFUCTO once again appeals to its members/affiliates and teachers’ fraternity to implement the decisions of NEC with utmost sincerity so that we can strive for a better future.
With warm regards and thanks,
Yours friendly,
Prof. Kesab Bhattacharya,
President
Arun Kumar,
General Secretary
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