HYDERABAD: BJP Telangana State President Shri N. Ramchander Rao and Shri R. Krishnaiah participated in an all-party meeting organised to discuss the long-pending issues of contract lecturers working in 12 universities across Telangana at the Press Club, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad.
Speaking at the meeting, N. Ramchander Rao demanded that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy fulfil the promises made to contract lecturers during the Assembly elections and provide them with immediate job security.
He called for the regularisation or absorption of eligible contract lecturers and demanded the implementation of 7th Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and UGC pay scales until the regularisation process is completed. He also insisted that fresh faculty appointments should be taken up only after addressing the concerns of existing contract lecturers.
Rao expressed concern over the working conditions of highly qualified faculty members holding MSc, PhD and MPhil degrees, who have reportedly been serving universities for several years without permanent job security and receiving salaries ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹39,000.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening the higher education system and said that the government should increase education sector allocations in line with the national average.
Referring to Supreme Court judgments, including the Uma Devi and Bholanath cases, he said that the government should explore available legal provisions for absorbing eligible contract faculty rather than delaying the matter over UGC regulations.
He further assured that if any technical assistance or clarification was required from the Central Government or UGC, he would personally take up the issue with the Union Education Minister and extend his support towards resolving the matter.
Rajya Sabha MP R. Krishnaiah also participated in the meeting and extended his support to the demands of contract lecturers. He has previously raised the issue of job security, regularisation and fair pay for contract assistant professors working in Telangana’s 12 universities.
The meeting brought together representatives from different political parties and contract lecturers, highlighting the need for a comprehensive solution to their long-pending demands.
The participants urged the state government to take immediate steps to protect the interests of university contract faculty and strengthen the higher education system in Telangana.
