Asst Prof on hunger strike faints in front of Pbi varsity VC’s office

One of the two assistant professors on a hunger strike in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s (VC’s) office at Punjabi University fainted. She had to be admitted to the university campus dispensary for treatment. Contract assistant professors have been protesting for nearly two months.

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Sensing that their demands were not being met, Dr Taranjeet Kaur, president, Punjabi University Contract Teachers Association, and Dr Rajmohinder Kaur began a hunger strike on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, Dr Rajmohinder Kaur’s condition began to deteriorate, and by afternoon, she fell unconscious in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office. She was admitted to the university’s dispensary by her protesting colleagues.

According to information, these teachers, working on contract in various constituent colleges, neighbourhood campuses, regional centres and the main campus of Punjabi University, are demanding implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission approved by the UGC in 2018.

The protest, which has been ongoing for the past two months, was converted into a hunger strike by teachers today. Union leaders said the university administration’s attitude towards their demands was extremely negative.

They said, “We have been working on contract and facing exploitation for the past 10 to 16 years. We will not back down from achieving our legitimate demands. If any untoward incident happens with any of our colleagues during hunger strike, the sole responsibility will lie with the Punjabi University administration.”