PAUTA continues protest outside Thapar Hall

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 27

The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) continued with their protest dharna outside Thapar Hall here today.

The association has been sitting on dharna since March 17, seeking redressal of their demands. Teachers also protested during the Kisan Mela by wearing black badges.

Vice-Chancellor BS Dhillon has constituted a committee to hold talk with the association and had put forward the teachers’ demands to the committee.

“The association has been placing their demands before the authorities from time to time for the past three years. Several committees had been constituted earlier for discussing and solving the issues. Nothing concrete in terms of orders/circulars has been issued by the administration,” said PAUTA President KS Sangha.

“Despite being on dharna for the past five days, no offer of sincere talks has been put forward by the Vice-Chancellor. The committee has also not responded to the discussion held earlier. This demonstrates the callous, laid back and non-serious attitude of the administration,” said PAUTA Secretary DK Sharma.

The teachers have been putting in their best by working day in and day out and this abject neglect of their genuine demands (promotion/transfer policy/academic freedom) is leading to great resentment among the faculty. The administration has failed to address the issues and the association will be forced to take up the issues in the Board of Management. “The PAUTA will individually approach members of the Board, and if required, will request the Chancellor of the university to look into the issues,” they said.