IMPHAL, Feb 22: The Co-ordinating Committee of the College Students`™ Union, Manipur has appealed to the Government and Federation of College Teachers Association Manipur (FECTAM) to break the deadlock, which has resulted in jeopardizing the career of college going students in the state, at the earliest failing which it informed to take up necessary forms of agitations to fulfill it rightful demand.
A press meet was held in this connection today at the Imphal College, organized by the Co-ordinating committee of the students. Speaking during the meet H. Purnachandra, co-convener of the committee, expressed his apprehension that the students community especially the college going students would be put to a dead end if the current impasse continue to prevail. He maintained that it is the time for the colleges to be functioning in full swing rather than remain defunct due to the absence teachers. With the exams for some of the semester round the corner the prevailing situation if not addressed timely might give a hard time to the students with the syllabus lying uncovered.
While terming the demand of the Teachers as genuine, it further appealed both the parties to give refraining space in the interest of the students`™ communities keeping aside the differences, in the wake of the possible escalation of the teachers`™ agitation, the proposed cease work strike which is commencing from February 28.
If any amicable situation is not brought within a feasible time to break the dead lock, the students`™ communities would be compelled to take things on their own hands to get its deserving right, warned H. Purnachandra.
It is worth mentioning that the college teachers under the banner of FECTAM had launched sit in protest since yesterday in the entire college functioning in the state for the period of one hour. The sit in protest will concluded on February 26.
While talking to media persons during the protest at Imphal College today, a representative of FECTAM, N. Brojendro, revealed that the teachers`™ body has been demanding the Government to upgrade its pay under the revised UGC pay scale grade since the last 18 months.
He asserted that the revised UGC pay scale has been implemented altogether in 27 states and the same time the 6th pay commission has been implemented for other Government employees, with the similar provision to increase the pay scale. But the pay hike has been deprived only for teacher communities, he said.
The State Government has been remaining a deaf ear to the prolonged and genuine demand of the FECTAM despite repeated submission of memorandum, various forms of agitation.
However the teacher will not remain a silent spectator and has proposed to launch a complete cease work strike in the entire colleges from February 28, said Brojendro.
Placards and banners which read `Save Higher Education` `Review Cabinet Decision of November 4, 2010` `Implement National Policy on Higher Education` `Adopt UGC scheme in toto` etc. were displayed during the protest.
