SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 19: The Chancellor’s order to curtail the summer vacation, Durga puja and Christmas holidays has triggered protests from teachers in Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad and Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) Hazaribag.
The teachers of SSLNT Women’s College (BBMKU) protested the order wearing black badges and urged the vice-chancellor Dr Sukhdeo Bhoi to withdraw the decision and continue the number of leaves that have been given to teachers to date.
Earlier, a delegation of the VBU PG Teachers Association had also met the vice-chancellor Dr Mukul Narayan Deo in Hazaribagh and requested him to withdraw it.
The Chancellor (Governor) office has issued a uniform leave calendar to all the vice-chancellors of Jharkhand universities for implementation from June 1, 2023.
As per the uniform calendar, a one-month summer vacation has been curtailed to 20 days only. Durga Puja vacation has been given only for six days. Under the new rule, uniform autumn vacation (during Deepawali to Chhath) has been granted for 12 days and university-restricted holidays for five days.
SSLNT Women’s College Teachers Association President Dr Sunita Hembram while opposing the order of the Chancellor’s office said that university and college teachers are vocational staff as per Jharkhand State University Act 2000. The leave has been given under the Act. So, curtailment in leave is a violation of the Act.
The Teachers Association said that the workload on teachers is increasing day by day due to a shortage of faculty members. “Teachers are working under pressure and in such conditions, it is an uphill task to maintain the quality of teaching. So, we urge the chancellor to withdraw curtail of vocational leave,” they said.
The senior teachers who were protesting the decision were Professor in-charge Dr Sarita Srivastava, Dr Sumita Tiwary, Dr Kavita Ghirey, Dr Meena Kumari, Dr Bimal Minj, Dr Shobha Sarita, Dr Kaveri Mitra, Dr Priya Madhulika, Dr Priya Aradhya.
BBMKU Post Graduate Teachers Association Secretary Dr DK Singh has also protested curtailment in leave stating that it is not rational. In fact, it is a direct attack on the autonomous status of the university. College teachers come under vocational staff grade. On one side, a 50 per cent cut in vacation and curtailing casual leave is not justified.
“The Teachers’ body urges to increase the earned leave from 12 to 33 days in a year and enhance casual leave to 16 from 8, only then vacation leave should be curtailed,” said Dr Singh.
However, the former president of VBU Hazaribag PG Teachers Association Prof Kaushlendra Kumar said that local university authorities have no role in curtailing the leave. On the notice of the Chancellor’s office, university authorities have issued the order, he added.
