5 Aug : There are many tasks – pending, half-complete and altogether new. Some of them might even take more than one year for their realization, yet they must start. Here is a list of our priorities:
1. To contribute in all possible ways towards the smooth implementation of Task Force’s recommendations for the financial security of PU. Our commitment to this task is total.
2. To press for recruitment of faculty in faculty-starved departments. Last PUTA did make some headway in this direction, but still many departments are reeling under acute faculty-shortage. We will ensure that in no case be specialized subjects forced upon teachers who do not have professional expertise in those very areas. The teachers are heavily overburdened, and the research work has taken a back-seat.
3. To ensure a teacher-friendly implementation of new UGC regulations: The new UGC regulations are a veritable Pandora’s Box. We would ensure that nothing is misinterpreted to the disadvantage of teachers. We would oppose any retrospective implementation of the new regulations. We shall be vigilant enough to ensure that teachers get equal opportunity to earn ‘points’ necessary for CAS in case UGC refuses to change such requirements as being negotiated by AIFUCTO.
4. To press for discipline specific parameters for purposes of promotion. A uniform system to evaluate teachers of different departments with radically different orientations can be counter-productive.
5. To see to it that the dependents of women employees receive equal facilities (which include consultancy, as well as reimbursement) vis-à-vis the dependents of male employees without any discrimination.
6. To ensure promotion for Programmers which is being postponed/ denied for reasons inexplicable. Let us understand that the massive computerization- process that PU has undergone in last couple of years is largely because of the tireless efforts of these programmers.
7. The teachers of basic sciences employed in UIET who possess Ph.D. and have a considerable experience should be allowed to guide research. If we can allow research supervision to college teachers, why should our ‘own’ teachers be discriminated against? We shall ensure that these teachers be allowed to guide research.
8. To demand for a transparent system of the working of University guest houses. The teachers are denied rooms most arbitrarily and disrespectfully. We shall pay focused attention on this issue.
9. There is a tremendous amount of space-constraint for the doctors in the Dental Institute. There is no common room. The canteen is pathetic. Keeping in view the rather taxing nature of their job, there should be at least one doctor’s lounge on each floor.
10. In multi-faculty departments, the department-coordinators be appointed on the basis of rotation to ensure democratization of functioning. We have already mooted such a move for UIET. The coordinators, we shall propose, be given adequate financial and secretarial assistance.
11. Young non-Ph.D. faculty recruited in PU departments should be exempted from appearing in Ph.D. entrance of the University. Also PU must consider GATE qualified teachers to go for Ph.D. without asking them to qualify the same exam after M.Tech.
12. For the purposes of academic enhancement, the University must allow young faculty to proceed on study leave. We fail to understand as to why such a leave is seen as some extraordinary ‘benefit’. The most abominable aspect of obtaining study leave is that the applicant is forced to do hectic lobbying. We shall try to make the process of obtaining study-leave smooth and hassle-free.
13. To work for amendments in PUTA constitution seeking redistribution/ rationalization of executive positions to different faculties. PU has undergone ‘a generational change’ and PUTA constitution therefore needs a drastic revision.
14. To monitor the on-going repair-work of campus houses and teaching blocks. We have come to know that in many houses, the pace of work is very slow.
15. We shall approach Punjab CM as well as Governor for allocating a space for housing society of PU teachers at subsidized rates. One letter has already been sent.
The list of priorities given above is incomplete, and soon we shall come with a complementary list. Before we round off, we make it loud and clear, that at no level the disrespect of teacher would not be tolerated. Sooner or later the Senate must undergo reform. We shall take the debate to public realm.
Once again our motto is twofold: STENGTHEN PUTA and VOTE FEARLESSLY
Vote for: AKSHAYA-KHALID TEAM