PRESS RELEASE
In favour of publication:
PATNA/New Delhi
29thApril.2020
‘ All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation’s (AIFUCTO)
deplores the freezing of DA and DR to central Government employees and
pensioners.AIFUCTO also opposes the online teaching and examination to meet COVID
19.
.AIFUCTO secretariat and office bearers in a video conference meeting ,yesterday on
28.04.2020 decided to express it's opposition and resentment to the freezing of DA and
DR to Central Government employees and pensioners.The conference further decided to
record its objection to on line teaching and examination suggested by Ministry of Home
Affairs and consequent suggestions by the experts committee of UGC to deal with the
abnormal academic situation created by Corona.
.Freezing of DA and DR to central Government employees and pensioners:
The Central Government taking advantage of emotional environment caused by panepidemic Corona has taken an arbitrary and undemocratic decision to freeze the DA and
DR to central Government employees and pensioners with effect from January 2020 to
July 2021.Many state governments including Telengana and Tamil Nadu taking clue from
the centre have also taken similar decision.The Central Government employees,
pensioners as well as the teachers have been in the forefront as a soldier to fight against
Corona and have donated generously to the CM and PM relief fund.DA is paid to
the employees only to compensate the rising cost of living and is not a matter of
charity. Central Government should have explored the possibility of raising
resources from corporate, industry and big business.
Unfortunately no stake holder has been consulted on the issue while the
government is trying to shift all the burdens of its economic mismanagement to
the employees and working class.
On line teaching and examination to meet COVID-19:
In pursuance to the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines and consequent
submission of report by an expert committee formed by UGC,it is proposed to
have on line examination and teaching to respond to the crisis of
Corona.AIFUCTO is of the firm view that online teaching and examination during
a pandemic is discriminatory. In a country like India where students from all
social and economic background are impacted by the pan-epidemic, not
everyone would have access to internet .Marginalised, disabled and blind
students will be adversely affected by the UGC decision.Extraordinary
circumstances demand extraordinary measures and any such measures should
be in accordance with the values and provision of constitution of India and
provide a level playing field for all.
Alternately the universities and colleges be allowed to finish their pending
courses within 15 days of reopening of the institution, finish the internal
examination and go for normal semester examination. AIFUCTO is strongly of the
opinion that online examination and teaching only will serve the interests of
corporate and not that of the mass students.
Prof.Arun Kumar,General Secretary, AIFUCTO after secretariat and office bearers
meeting, said that all affiliates of AIFUCTO across the country will launch email
mass compaign to FM Nirmala Sitaraman & PM against DA& DR freezing and
decided to express protest by sending thousands of mails to MHRD & UGC
against online system of teaching and examination to meet the Covid-19.
AIFUCTO decided to urge upon the central Government to reconsider its
undemocratic decision to freeze the DA and DR to central Government employees
and pensioners.Further it has requested the UGC to refrain from any decisions of
going for on line examination and teaching to meet the present academic
dislocation.
.Arun Kumar,
General Secretary AIFUCTO