A rare privilege for a part time lecturer

In a very recent development the Principal of Ananda Chandra College, Jalpaiguri has appointed Mr. Moloy Kanti Das, a part time lecturer of his college, from the Deptt. of History, as teacher-in-charge, in his temporary absence from office. The decision was taken by the Principal amidst several oppositions from all full time teachers. Mr. Das was considered the most efficient among all the others present. This may be considered as a rare prestige for part time lecturers, who have till date been considered nothing worthwhile by most college authorities. Such decisions & hopefully many more in the days to come, will definitely strengthen the part time teachers movement in the State.

Recent Developments in Barasat Govt College

Ad hoc Puja Bonus: A Consolation

The govt has announced Ad-hoc puja bonus for all existing part time College & University teachers of the state on 30th Aug,'13, which though serves as a happy tiding for many, during festive seasons, is only but a meagre consolation prize for all the movements of part time teachers, till date. It is obvious for the Govt to feel that people who have nothing can be easily satisfied with very little that may be offered to them, but though, we appreciate the Govt decision of keeping in mind the miserable state of nearly 7000 College teachers, during festive seasons, still we want to emphasize that the primary demand of our association for pay scale for all part time teachers remains the foremost priority, along with the change of name of our teaching posts. We will fight for these demands to our last breath, if required. We require full dignity & recognition of our labour & dedication over the years, not in piecemeal or as a mere throwaway prize, but in a prestigious manner.

Print Media Coverage of the Movement of 19th August

A rain dripping dark cloud clapped Metro sky witnessed the assembly of hundreds of part time lecturers at Raja Subodh Mullick Squire, Kolkata, on 19th August.'13, from various colleges of the State under the able leadership of Elora Biswas, who marched in a long peaceful procession towards Y Channel, Dharamtala(Esplanade). Amidst heavy monsoon downpour, the procession with slogans in favour of the rights of part time teachers, & singing "We Shall Overcome", holding a huge half bust cut out of the State Higher Education Minister, Mr Bratya Basu, intending to show the man, the plight of several of his college teachers, gradually moved towards Esplanade. The cut out of the Minister was fanned by the teachers continually on the way, to show that he may rest like the supreme Lord, while numerous teachers suffer immensely. Arriving at the scheduled spot, escorted by a huge police force from all around, & constantly followed & interviewed by several print & electronic media on the way, the teachers halted & prepared for the ultimate protest show. Elora Biswas chanted a "strotram"(a religious chanting, meant to be a banter, in this case) of Bratya Basu & started worshiping the cut cut of the Minister putting a garland of "rotis" round his neck, joined in by a Hindu hymnal chanting, & followed by priestly rituals from all the teachers present. The teachers offered "Anjali to the Minister with torn pieces of Roti, to show the plight of the teachers who themselves ignored & unfed have been feeding the Higher Education Deptt of the State for decades.

All these have been taking place in front of the huge police barricade in front & Higher police officers eager to know about the next move of our association. Following the "Bratya Puja", Mrs Elora Biswas along with Mr. Haripada Pradhan, were escorted by the police to Writers Building, Kolkata to present their deputation. The impact of the movement, as reported by Mrs Biswas later, on the total atmosphere of the Writers Building, The Administrative Headquarter of the State, has been quite astounding. The Govt has been intimated in clear terms, that until the legitimate demands of these exploited teachers are met, the teachers will take to the streets time & again against the Govt policy of torment & exploitation.

News of our Movement in Rajasthan Patrika

The News of our Movement  on 19th August, '13(From Subodh Mullick Squire to Writers Building, Kolkata) has been published in Rajasthan Patrika on 18th August(Kolkata Edition) in advance, thus highlighting its importance.

We demand immediate Abolishment of the term "Part time Lecturer"

It has been a long standing demand of our association that the much humiliating & derogatory term "Part time Lecturer" should be thoroughly abolished, replacing it with a respectable designation like "Essential Professor". Unfortunately the Govt has turned a deaf ear to this meagre appeal of those teachers, who bear the maximum load in sustaining & nurturing the Higher Education Infrastructure of the State. It is shameful affair that in a civilized society teachers are discriminated against, both by their students & their full time colleagues, on grounds of their derogatory designation.

The Meeting at Barasat Press Club

The meeting at Barasat Press Club on 16th August, '13 was attended by part time lecturers from different colleges of North 24 Pgs, to discuss the proposed agenda of 19th August, 13. Members unanimously agreed on the issue that all recent Govt Orders remain orders in black & white, without implementation. The financial exploitation of part time lecturers continue in various colleges of West Bengal. Under the circumstances, forced by dire financial necessity, these teachers are compelled by the Govt to move to the streets, ethically & morally demanding rights & privileges of full time teachers.

Meeting at Barasat Press Club

To arrive at some important decisions regarding our march on 19th August, & to discuss some upcoming issues & problems related to & of part time teachers, all part time teachers of the state are requested to attend a meeting at Barasat Press Club (Near Champadali More) on 16th August, '13 at 2pm.

March to acquire Rights on 19th August, '13

All part time teacher of the State are requested to assemble at Raja Subodh Mullick Square (Wellington Square/Crossing) Kolkata on 19th August, 2013, at 10 am, to march for acquiring our rights, in a procession towards Writers Building, Kolkata to submit a deputation to the Hon'ble Chief Minister. It is a march to make it clear to the State Govt that the part time teachers, of the State claim all rights of a full time college teacher, because they skillfully serve the Govt & their respective colleges in every possible way, performing  admission, invigilation, & even election duties & all other administrative jobs in many colleges quite like any full time teacher. In some cases the earnest services rendered by part time teachers in many colleges are simply no match to that rendered by many full time teachers, enjoying wide financial benefits. Govt orders regarding part time teachers are not executed in time & colleges move in perpetual sloth regarding sending monthly remuneration bills for part time teachers, as declared by the govt only a few days back. Teachers are paid once in a year in present times of utter financial crisis. The motto of the higher education authorities seem to be: MAKE PART TIME TEACHERS WORK HARDER, PAYING THEM LESS. In protest of such age old injustice & exploitation we appeal to all sections of people to support the lawful cause of these hapless teachers, & walk hand in hand along with us on the 19th of August, in our march towards acquiring our rights as full time teachers. Keeping in mind the services of the part time teachers in sustaining the Higher Education infrastructure of the State, their unflinching dedication towards their students, alongside with their deprivations by the Govt, people from everyday walks of life are requested to join hands with us on the 19th of this month, raise their voices of protest against such inhuman attitude,to make the govt feel how society cries for justice.