Teachers announce four-phase agitation over delay in CAS benefits

Madurai: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa and Alagappa University Teachers' Association (MUTA) have announced a four-phase protest beginning Feb 24, over the non-implementation of career advancement scheme benefits.The associations have decided to intensify their state wide agitation starting from a human chain protest in front of colleges on Feb 24, resubmission of copies of the government order to the director of collegiate education on Feb 26, a road blockade protest on Feb 28 and a continuous sit-in protest at the directorate of collegiate education, from March 5.
"Based on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission and the Seventh Pay Commission, the TN govt issued GO Ms. No. 5 (higher education department) on Jan 11, 2021, ensuring career advancement benefits for teachers working in universities and colleges. Subsequently, the director of collegiate education issued guidelines for implementing the GO. However it has not been implemented for teachers working in govt aided colleges for over five years," said A Xavier Selvakumar, general secretary, AUT.He said that only in Coimbatore and Thanjavur, teachers have been granted CAS salaries, but without arrears. In the remaining six regions, including Chennai, only orders were issued, while neither CAS salaries nor arrears were provided, he added.MUTA president K Periyasamy said that due to the non-implementation of CAS benefits for associate professors, faculty members have been unable to admit additional research scholars as per UGC norms. "As a result, over the past three years, nearly 1,000 economically disadvantaged rural students have lost the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies," he said that this is a significant loss to the society.He added that despite numerous forms of protests over the past five years, and assurances given during three meetings with the higher education minister, Govi Chezhiaan, the promised career advancement benefits are yet to be implemented.