Mumbai: As the nation celebrates Teacher`s Day today as a mark of respect and gratitude to them, nearly 4,000 faculty members of the prestigious IITs have threatened to go on an indefinite strike for improved pay structure.
Members of the IIT Faculty Federation will meet in
Delhi tomorrow to take a final call on the issue, Devang
Khakhar, Director, IIT-Bombay, told a news agency.
Around 450 faculty members of IIT-B joined the
nationwide relay fast this morning demanding better salaries
and allowances as part of the nationwide stir by the faculty
members of the renowned institutes.
Ten days ago, the faculty of the elite technology
institutes had taken a mass casual leave.
Faculty members attended classes wearing black badges
in protest, seeking prompt consideration of their demand by
the Union HRD Minister.
The agitators contend that the hike should be
commensurate with the increased burden on them as the result
of 27 per cent increase in the seats after reservation for the
OBCs and because they now have to cater to the new and
satellite IITs.
The IIT faculty is currently getting salaries as per
the Sixth Pay Commission report, which according to them, is
equal to UGC grade. They, however, want a better scale as IITs
are specialised institutes of higher learning.
Bureau Report
