Around 100 faculty members of Sikkim University under the banner of Sikkim University Teachers’ Association (SUTA) held a protest rally from the university library to the administrative block at 6th Mile area of Gangtok on Thursday demanding basic facilities for the teachers.
The SUTA members who submitted a memorandum with the demands to officiating Vice Chancellor Prof Jyoti Prakash Tamang of Sikkim University stated that the association is strongly disappointed with the university policies and its apathy towards basic facilities for the teachers.
Among the demands raised is construction of permanent campus of the university.
The teachers stated that there is lack of basic amenities essential for effective teaching and overall development of research and cognitive growth in the university and demanded the acceleration of campus construction work.
They also demanded that the university speed up the process of MoUs concerning medical facilities for the university staff.
Inadequate house rent allowance considering the exorbitantly high house rent in Gangtok, basic IT facilities to all faculty members, demand for immediate withdrawal of a notification regarding policy for promotion under CAS, representation in Sikkim University Academic Council, Executive Council, Finance Committee, University Court and all other committees related to teachers concerns and removal of three months’ notice or payment of salary for those on lien were among the issues mentioned in the SUTA memorandum.
The faculty members further demanded that they be allowed to avail duty leave as per the regulations of UGC governing leave. They mentioned that suitable amendments should be brought in the University ordinances to make them compatible with UGC regulations.
The SUTA demanded that the university should take necessary action within 15 days failing which the teachers threatened to intensify their agitation.
