Maharashtra College Teachers' Strike: A Plea for 100% Professor Recruitment and Fair Honorarium

Teachers in Pune have been on a strike, with two of them fasting, since Monday, demanding that the state government honor its promise to recruit 5,012 professors in non-government colleges as per the chief minister's assurances more than four months ago. They are also seeking an increase in the clock hour basis (CHB) honorarium to Rs 1,500 per hour as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification, which the state has mandated at Rs 900 per hour. The teachers claim that most colleges in the state are running with temporary appointments in over 60% of teaching posts, rendering their qualifications in NET/SET and PhD meaningless.

Key Takeaways:

• More than 60% of teaching posts in Maharashtra colleges are filled with temporary appointments, despite the chief minister's assurance of 100% professor recruitment four months ago.
• The current honorarium of Rs 900 per hour is below the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification of Rs 1,500 per hour for clock hour basis (CHB) appointments.
• Teachers are seeking a permanent recruitment process that is fair and not influenced by management favoritism or bribery.
• Many qualified teachers work temporary jobs, sell goods, or take up other professions to make ends meet due to the delay in government recruitment.
• The Maharashtra New Professors Association is leading the strike, with its president, Sandeep Pathrikar, on a hunger strike, despite already having a permanent teaching post.
• The government has not taken a policy decision on 100% professor recruitment in colleges across Maharashtra, despite the chief minister's assurances.
• The finance department was supposed to approve the recruitment within 15 days, but that was over four months ago, and the process has stalled.
• Teachers like Nandkumar Udar, a NET, SET, PhD-qualified candidate, teach as temporary teachers despite possessing the required qualifications, rendering their degrees meaningless.

Statistics:

• Over 60% of teaching posts in Maharashtra colleges are filled with temporary appointments.
• 5,012 professors are to be recruited in non-government colleges, as per the chief minister's assurance.
• The current honorarium of Rs 900 per hour for CHB appointments is below the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification of Rs 1,500 per hour.
• Many qualified teachers work for several years without a permanent job, teaching out of necessity rather than choice.

Sources:

• Times of India - "Pune: Teachers on strike, CM's assurances ring hollow"