Regarding the Parity of Service conditions of Academics The Circular issued by the Teachers Affairs Division on 2nd June 1994, in compliance of the decisions taken in the 28th BOM and confirmed in the 29th BOM, states: · The career advancement scheme presently applicable to teachers shall be extended to other academic staff. The age of retirement of teachers and other academics shall be the same. The Circular No. IG/TA/2/862/08/297 dated 28th January 2009 issued by the Academic Coordination Division states: ‘The Assistant Regional Directors (ARD), the Regional Directors (RD)and the Senior Regional Directors in the Regional Services Division (RSD) and the corresponding level of Academics/Other Academics in other Divisions will be governed by the same Recruitment Rules, Career Advancement Scheme and service conditions as those of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors.‘ It is shocking that in spite of the above facts, the University has shown no seriousness in keeping its commitment. We would like to reiterate that it is the responsibility of the University to fulfil its commitments by ensuring parity of service conditions of Academics with those of Teachers. You may also be aware that the Distance Education Council had constituted a “Task Force on Personnel Policy for Career Advancement of Other Academics in Open Universities” in 2000 to recommend career advancement scheme for Academics working in Open Universities. The recommendation of the Task Force were circulated to UGC, MHRD and other State Open Universities. We understand that the recommendations of the Committee were approved by the Board of Management of IGNOU. The recommendations were accepted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and implemented in BRAOU (copies enclosed). The recommendations are unambiguous: ‘…the Committee recommended that the pay scales, the increments attached with qualifications, retirement age, facility of travel grants, membership of university authority etc. should be made applicable to all academic positions as they stand extended to teachers.’ ‘..the Committee recommended that the career advancement scheme as applicable to Teachers should be extended in toto to Academics also in view of the definition of teachers in the context of distance education’ It is ironical that IGNOU, the only national open university, did not consider the recommendations of DEC worthy of being implemented for its own Academics. The University may claim to have made efforts, but the sincerity of the efforts is evident from the fact that more than a decade down the line, the decisions are still waiting to see the light of the day. Due to the unjust and discriminatory approach of the University, the Academics, who play a vital role in the overall scheme of distance teaching-learning, are feeling disillusioned and cheated. Their discontentment and frustration may not remain controlled for long. In the General Body Meeting of IGNOUTA held on 25th April 2012, it was unanimously resolved that IGNOUTA should ask the University to immediately implement the following: 1. CAS for Academics beyond Deputy Director level 2. Parity in age of superannuation of Academics with that of Teachers. It was also resolved that if the University does not implement the above within a reasonable time-frame, IGNOUTA would adopt democratic means of protest. One of our members from among Academics is going to attain the age of 62 and as per existing provisions (reiterated by Director- ACD in the Circular issued by him on 11th May 2012) will retire on 30th June 2012. This perpetuation of injustice cannot be allowed. Based on various Circulars issued by the University from time to time which are referred above, we urge upon you to take immediate steps so that another member of Academic community does not become a victim of administrative apathy. In view of the above, we appeal to you to take immediate steps for implementation of the above and have necessary orders issued at the earliest, but not later than 15th June 2012, failing which IGNOUTA would be constrained resort to democratic means of protest across the country. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Poonam Bhushan, Vice President (IGNOUTA) Prof. C. R. K. Murthy, Secretary (IGNOUTA)
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 08:55:07 +0000
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