MUMBAI, March 16: Members of the Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations (MFUCTO) will go on a hunger strike on April 2 to protest the state government's decision to declare teachers who have not passed the National Eligibility Test (NET) or State Eligibility Test (SET) as "ad hoc", and therefore not eligible for various benefits.Said the general secretary of MFUCTO, C R Sadashivan, at a press meet on Monday, the government's move is a violation of an agreement with the union, which is contained in a government resolution dated February 27, 1989.
The union said it was not against eligibility tests for new entrants, but against its retrospective use for teachers who had already put in five to six years in the profession.
MFUCTO denounced the government's failure to hold sufficient number of examinations, as well as its refusal to relax procedures for those who had already been appointed as teachers through properly constituted selection committees. Consequently, teacherswho did not take the tests or did not pass their eligibility test are declared "ad hoc" and debarred from benefits like increments, counting of service and joining refreshment and orientation courses.
Meanwhile, members of National Student Union of India were arrested when they tried to storm into the Vidhan Bhavan protesting against the state government's "anti-student" policies.
A group of about 70 NSUI youths assembled at the rear gate of Vidhan Bhavan today around 3 pm. The police were taken by surprise when the members, scattered among the people, suddenly grouped together and started shouting slogans against the alliance government. The police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the members.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
