Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 17:
With the stalemate over the termination of 466 part-time lecturers showing no sign of a let-up, nearly fifty of the terminated lady lecturers in an innovative form of protest today demonstrated along with their children at Nongmeikapam Gopal NG) College.
On the other hand, the agitating Government College Part Time Lecturers' Association received a morale booster as All India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisation has reportedly conveyed its solidarity to their State colleagues apart from expressing strong resentment over the service termination of the part-timers.
In a letter addressed to the State's Chief Secretary, the Federation's general secretary VK Tiwari today urged the State Government to reconsider the termination of of the part-timers besides warning that it would take agitational steps if no corrective measures are taken immediately.
At the NG College stir site, the lady lecturers apparently highlighting the grievous financial impact that would befall them and other terminated lecturers, staged the demonstration with their tiny tots holding placards that read 'save us from the jaws of death', 'no money no fees, no school', 'God saves, Nazi kills,' save our parents, save our future', 'Manipur burns, Government sleeps', etc.
One of the protestors, A Bimolata Devi who along with her six year old son Achom Vishal Singh joined the demonstration expressed "We have decided to bring out our children to show how much we have suffered after our services have been terminated".
"I had been working as part time lecturer in Ideal Girls College for over ten years without engaging in any other works as ruled by the government.
My husband too had been serving in the same profession.
Now everything is gone and it is now a question of our survival".
It may be noted that after the termination of these lecturers who had been demanding extension/regularisation of their service academic affairs in almost all the affected govt colleges of the state totalling 26 remained paralysed till today.
The ill-fated students, decrying derailment of normal academic function and hampering their academic careers had already launched different forms of agitations including class boycott and closure of their respective institutions in pursuit of revocation of the Sep 27, 2006 termination order.
president of the part-timers' body L Gojendra said the assn's representative along with education minister L Nandakumar had a meeting on Sep 13 over the issue but it ended without reaching any solution.
"Almost all members of the assn had been rendering their services for over 10 years and this being the case the govt should at least consider our plight by way of restoring the early policy or frame a new one so that our services are protected," he said.
Meanwhile, Thoubal College Students' union observed that the currently imbroglio arising out of the part-timers' axing is a consequence of inefficiency and short-sightedness of the Education Minister.
Having waited patiently expecting an amicable solution to the issue only to feel agitated as there is no positive gesture from the Govt side, the Union is constrained to declare cessation of all functions of Thoubal College from october 18 till 20, said a release.