Morung Express News
October 6
DIMAPUR: The FEDCUTA Executive today in a sitting to review the progress on its demands and future action plans, expressed serious concern over the move by the Government of India to offer higher education as a tradable service within the provisions of the General Agreement in Trade in Services (GATS) under the aegis of the WTO. The FEDCUTA in a release issued by Amar Deo Sharma and Rizwan Qaiser President and Secretary respectively observed that the move would threaten India’s independence in generation of knowledge and erode the commitment towards mass quality education. In this regard the FEDCUTA has decided to hold a National Convention against this move.
It expressed resentment against the MHRD and the UGC for their inaction / refusal to redress genuine grievances of the teaching community. It felt that this inaction was deliberate and aimed at eroding academic standards in public funded institutions, providing legitimacy to private business to operate at the level of higher education. The FEDCUTA warned the MHRD and the UGC against continuing with such a course and resolved to resort to direct action against the Governmental assault on higher education.
The body also specifically stressed that the following issues would be urgently pursued: Democratization of decision making bodies in all universities including elected Teacher representation in the Academic Council, Executive Council and University Court, pointing out that such a provision exists partially in the case of Aligarh Muslim University, Delhi University and Jamia Milia Islamia ; end to contractualization of Teaching profession through appointment of low paid guest faculty / consultants against substantive posts; filling up of all regular vacancies in teaching and non-teaching positions. Specifically, the FEDCUTA also noted that the Government delays nominating Visitor’s nominees to various universities. Stating that the delay adds to the process of downsizing departments and faculties since appointments cannot be made in their absence, it reiterated its demand that the tenure of Visitor’s nominees be continued till they are replaced.
The FEDCUTA further resolved to act as a watchdog against nepotism and corrupt practices “which have marred the selection process in most universities which erode academic standards” while demanding that the report of the fact finding committee of the UGC set up to enquire into irregularities in appointments and financial matters in Nagaland University should be made public without tampering. It also demanded that a Visitorial enquiry be set up to enquire into the functioning of the Vice Chancellor of the Nagaland University and save Nagaland University from sliding into chaos. It also condemned the circular issued by the UGC to the principals of the colleges of the University of Delhi, invoking the “No Work, No Pay” provision against the teaching and non-teaching staff for having observed a strike on August 1 2005 against the brutal attack in Gurgaon on workers and their right to association.
Meanwhile the Executive Committee of the FEDCUTA elected its new office bearers The following are the newly elected office bearers of the FEDCUTA:
President: Amar Deo Sharma (Delhi University Teachers’ Association)
Vice Presidents: Lalrintluanga (Mizoram University Teachers’ Association), Rosemary Dzuvichu (Nagaland University Teachers’ Association)
Secretary: Rizwan Qaiser (Jamia Teachers’ Association)
Jt. Secretary: Samira Behera (Assam University Teachers’ Association)
Treasurer: Tabrez Alam Khan (Jamia Teachers’ Association)
