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The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government, warning of an agitation starting on December 6 if their grievances are not addressed. ACTA's General Secretary, Jayanta Baruah, expressed concerns regarding various issues faced by college teachers in the state.
One major concern raised by ACTA is the delay in publishing the list of 430 associate professors who were promoted until November 17, 2022. This delay has created a shortage of candidates for vacant principal positions in colleges and academic registrar roles in universities. Additionally, the Education Department has not appointed an adequate number of members to departmental committees responsible for college teacher promotions.
ACTA demands the publication of lists for different stages of associate professors, including state I, stage II, and stage III promotions. Baruah emphasized that the Directorate of Higher Education should convene screening committee meetings every three months to prepare promotion lists, but this has not been happening regularly.
Another significant demand is the cancellation of the new pension scheme (NPS) and the reinstatement of the old pension scheme (OPS) for college teachers. ACTA argues that the NPS does not provide adequate financial security for educators.
Furthermore, ACTA seeks to bring college teachers who were selected before 2004 but appointed after 2005 due to departmental anomalies under the OPS, along with payment of arrears as recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission.
The association also highlights the issue of college teachers who were appointed with fixed salaries between 2004 and 2009 and have not received payment for their probationary period. They call for the exemption of around 300 college teachers appointed as per UGC regulations from NAT or SLET criteria, as these criteria were established after their appointments.
ACTA's demands also include raising the retirement age of college teachers to 65 years and addressing various challenges faced by newly provincialized colleges, such as leave policies for teachers pursuing M.Phil. or Ph.D. degrees, mutual transfers, and adherence to UGC norms for leave entitlement.
These issues collectively form the basis of ACTA's ultimatum, and the association seeks prompt resolutions from the state government to avert the planned agitation.
