Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Lecturers launch relay fast

Staff Reporter

Seek withdrawal of G.O. No. 35

VIJAYAWADA: In response to a call given by the Affiliated College Teachers' Association (ACTA), lecturers of several aided colleges began relay hunger camps in front of their respective institutions in the city on Tuesday.

Aided, part-time and ad hoc lecturers participated in the relay hunger strike, which was called in support of their demand for cancellation of G.O. No. 35.

Lecturers of the Andhra Loyola College (ALC), P.B. Siddhartha College of Arts & Science, KBN College, Sarada College and other colleges in the city went on the protest programme.

But, regular class work continued unhindered with associations sparing some lecturers to take classes. The lecturers would participate in relay hunger camps by turns.

The relay hunger camps were also organised at many colleges in the district also.

The Andhra Loyola College Staff Association conducted a similar camp in front of their college and strongly resented the G.O., which `sounded a death-knell' for filling of vacant aided posts in the State.

Concern over ban

Rector of Loyola College P. Antony expressed concern over the ban on filling of aided teacher posts.

Fr. Antony said that if the management had to fill all the vacancies with unaided staff, the burden on the management would be severe and they would have to charge more fees from students.

This would mean an unbearable burden on the underprivileged sections and economically poorer sections of society.

Social justice

ALC principal S. Emmanuel said that paving way for privatisation would lead to sacrificing of social justice. He expressed solidarity with the agitating staff.

ACTA Nagarjuna University area secretary G. Mathew Srirangam said that the relay hunger camps were being conducted at colleges all over the State.

Staff of nearly 200 colleges were participating in these camps. "The Government should be sympathetic towards aided sector and there should be regularisation of part-time lecturers. Aided vacancies should be filled with those already working in aided vacancies.''

ALC Staff Association chairman S.P. Rama Raju said that the relay hunger camp would continue up to December 8 and lecturers would attend the camp in batches so that regular classes would not be affected.

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