Around 125 teachers from departments and colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai and SNDT Women’s University under the leadership of Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU) held a
Around 125 teachers from departments and colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai and SNDT Women’s University under the leadership of Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU) held a protest outside the office of Joint Director Education (JDE), Mumbai Region against the non-payment of salaries for the months of December and January. BUCTU has alleged that a large number of teachers have not received their salaries as they have been removed from the online payment mode and put in the offline mode but as the Joint Director is not willing to give a clear answer, they will be forced to hold a dharna and hunger strike outside his office on February 9. Lectures in the colleges and departments will also be affected due to this.
Speaking about the situation, Dr Tapati Mukhopadhyay, president, Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation, said that a large section of staff members has been put in offline category in every college which includes 12 prominent colleges in the city too. “The governments Sevarth (online payment process) initiative which has been launched in Mumbai has gravely disturbed the teaching community. The teaching and non-teaching staff has been made to suffer serious financial hardship,” said Dr Mukhopadhyay.
Dr Madhu Paranjpe, general secretary, BUCTU, said that while teachers in Mumbai were yet to receive their salaries for December and January, in the rest of Maharashtra, December salary was received in first week of January. “What is most objectionable is that the Joint Director, failed in his duty to give correct information regarding this issue. He has claimed through his office that salaries were disbursed to all colleges on January 30–31. Simultaneously, he has also claimed that salaries for 90 percent of the staff has been released. However, as of today 6.00 p.m. salaries have not been disbursed in majority of colleges,” said Dr Paranjpe.
The colleges that have been put on offline mode include, among others, Jai Hind, Sophia, Hinduja, Ruia, Kirti, MD, Khalsa, SIES, Vaze, S.K and K.J. Somaiya College. Dr Paranjpe added that though the JD had initially agreed to meet the protestors, he later reneged which further angered the teachers. Hence a decision to intensify the agitation was taken by holding a dharna and hunger strike outside the JDE office. Dr Shailendra Deolankar, JD, was unavailable for comment.
