Junior lecturers give up boycott plans

Tirupati: The proposed call to boycott Intermediate supplementary examinations by AP Government Junior Lecturers Association (AP GJLA) was withdrawn as the Intermediate Board has come forward with a positive note to address their demands. GJLA has earlier gave a notice to the Commissioner of Intermediate Board that they will boycott supplementary examination duties which will begin on May 14. 

Accordingly, on Friday, they did not attend the meetings conducted in all 13 districts by RIOs in connection with these examinations. Instead, they staged dharnas in all the districts protesting against the attitude of the Board. The Commissioner has sent a team of officials to the agitating leaders in Vijayawada, said the General Secretary of the Association Vunnam Ravi who participated in the agitation in Vijayawada. He told The Hans India that after discussions, the officials have given time frame solutions to their demands to which they were satisfied. 

In the larger interests of the students and their future, we have decided to resume duties with immediate effect. We will wait for the fulfilment of assurances and if any deviation takes place, we will stop spot valuation duties”, Ravi maintained. ``Our demands will not put any financial burden on government’s exchequer. They were the routine administrative issues which were pending for long”, he said.

For instance, out of the 444 colleges in the government sector, as many as 175 colleges do not have Principals. All the three regional joint directors (RJDs), 13 regional inspecting officers (RIOs), district vocational educational officers (DVEOs) posts are vacant and those working in these posts were acting as in-charges only. GJLA demands to fill these posts immediately as it lays additional burden on the staff. 

They also sought promotions to eligible junior lecturers as Degree college lecturers as there are 500 vacancies. The board has kept these promotions in pending citing court cases. Now, the Board officials have agreed to fill these posts through promotions after taking legal advice  soon. Regarding the Dearness Allowance (DA), which was pending since March 2018, will be cleared in two days along with sanctioning earned leaves (ELs).  

GJLA leaders have also demanded payment of salaries to the contract lecturers for the whole year instead of 10 months for which the Board assured to look into. Other demand includes giving salaries every month to Aided college staff instead of once in three months and officials gave assurance in this regard. An action plan for the implementation of mid-day meal scheme was assured.