FEGOCTA calls off cease work strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 27 2019:
Federation of Government College Teachers' Association Manipur (FEGOCTA) has decided to call off its cease work strike for the time being, following a meeting with Education Minister Th Radheshyam today.
The association also announced that it will call off the proposed boycott of the graduation semester examination which will begin from tomorrow.
It may be recalled that the cease work strike of the Government college teachers began from November 20.A statement issued by the general secretary of FEGOCTA conveyed that during the meeting, it was agreed that the Education Minister will take the responsibility of ensuring that a Cabinet memo regarding implementation of 7th UGC Pay and Regulations 2018, is tabled during the first Cabinet meeting and passed.
However, FEGOCTA made it clear during the meeting that if the State Government fails to fulfil its assurance, the association will resume the cease work strike immediately, it added.
Following the meeting with the Government, FEGOCTA convened an emergency executive meeting at GP Women's College and decided to call off its cease work strike and the call boycott of the semester examinations.
On the other hand, other factors for the decision to call of its protest by FEGOCTA are the career prospects and welfare of the students, it added.
Earlier in the day, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) had appealed to the Federation of Government College Teacher Association (FEGOCTA) to call off its cease work strike taking into consideration the situation of the students who are set to appear for the graduation semester exam from tomorrow.
The students' union also appealed to the Education Minister and the State Government to look into the demands of FEGOCTA and bring about an amicable solution at the earliest in the interest of the students.
A statement issued by the secretary, education and academic affairs of DESAM conveyed that the demand raised by the college teachers concerning implementation of 7th UGC Pay and Regulation 2018, is a reasonable demand and this is a step which should have been taken up by the Government as one of its responsibilities without the need for the teachers to protests or agitate.
It then claimed that however, almost all the time, no positive development takes place without some organisation or the other rising in protest thereby forcing the Government or the authorities to sit up and take notice.
DESAM considers this inability of the Government to fulfil the demand of the college teachers as a failure to live up to its (Govt) promise of making education a top priority for the State, it added.
It then demanded the State Government to do the needful to fulfil the demands of the college teachers at the earliest and restore peaceful academic atmosphere in the State.
On the other hand, the students' union mentioned that it does not support teachers ceasing work and protesting even if their demand is justified.
Appealing the teachers to adopt other forms of democratic protests instead of cease work, DESAM assured to offer full support in any other protests.
It then appealed to the teachers to call off their cease work protest in view of the semester exams of the students which will begin from tomorrow.