Friday, February 20, 2009

Clarification Regarding Draft Regulation for UGC Notification on Revision of Pay Scales.

This in continuation to the Draft Regulation for UGC Notification on revision of Pay Scales released by UGC. MANUUTA has already replied to with its suggestions to the abovementioned draft regulation.
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Clarification Regarding Draft Regulation for UGC Notification on Revision of Pay Scales.
The UGC has received order from Government of India dated 31st December 2008 regarding scheme of revision of pay of teachers and equivalent cadres in universities and colleges as per the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission. The Government has also released
grant for payment of 40% of arrears. The Commission is in the process of releasing the grant to the universities and colleges. The centrally funded universities and colleges are requested to make payment in accordance with Government of India notification dated 31st December 2008 and the UGC draft Regulations may not be taken into account while releasing the arrears. It is further clarified that incumbent Readers and Lecturers (Selection Grade) who have completed 3 years in the current pay scale of Rs. 12000-18300 on 1.1.2006 shall be placed in the Pay Band of Rs. 37400-67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000 and shall be re-designated as Associate Professor. Incumbent Readers and Lecturers (Selection Grade) who had not completed three years in the pay scale of Rs. 12000-18300 on 1.1.2006 shall be placed at the appropriate stage in the Pay Band of Rs. 15600-39100 with AGP of Rs. 8000 till they complete 3 years of service in the grade of Lecturer (Selection Grade) / Reader, and thereafter shall be placed in the higher Pay Band of Rs. 37400-67000 and accordingly re-designated as Associate Professor. The Institutions are requested to make payment in accordance with these provisions. The
fitment tables are expected from the Government of India any time. As and when the same are received, these will be placed on the UGC website and Institutions may make payment accordingly.

Secretary
UGC
(Available at UGC Website: http://www.ugc.ac.in/notices/clfndraftregulatin2009.pdf )

FEDCUTA Press Release


FEDCUTA Press Release
20 February 2009.


FEDCUTA in its meeting held today decided to defer the demonstration which was to be held at UGC on 24 February 2009 in the light of assurance given by the UGC Chairman that the UGC draft Regulations will be recast in consultation with FEDCUTA and also that the pay revision of teachers will take place on the basis of MHRD Notification of 31 December 2008.


FEDCUTA rejected the Draft UGC Notification completely as it superseded the MHRD Notification on pay revision of teachers, particularly of Readers / Lectures in Selection Grade and also there was a serious attack on autonomy of the universities and attempt to deny and delay promotions to fresh entrants to teaching profession.


FEDCUTA rejects the higher AGP of Rs.12000/- to 10% Professors only after 10 years of service and demands that all Professors on completing 10 years as Professor be placed in the AGP of Rs.12000/-.


FEDCUTA will take up the other issues, viz. advance increments for Ph.D. / M.Phil. w.e.f., 1.1.2006 (instead of 1.9.2008), AGP of Rs.6600/- for new entrants, one time option from CPF to GPF, old pension scheme for teachers appointed after 1.1.2004, etc. with MHRD / UGC and will execute all action programmes including dharna, strike, march to MHRD etc. to achieve its demands.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

UGC set for appraisal of univ professors, principals

Source: Times of India (19th February 2009) Seethalakshmi S TNN

Bangalore: Performance appraisal of professors and college principals? If the University Grants Commission (UGC) has its way, for the first time, lakhs of professors and principals in the 400-odd universities across the country will face evaluation. The UGC proposal includes compulsory stay on campus for five hours every day, 30 weeks of actual teaching (six working days), minimum six hours research per week and performance assessment. The vacation period too has been cut from 10 weeks a year to eight weeks. The UGC’s draft notification on ‘revision of pay scales, minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers in universities/colleges and other measures for maintenance of standards 2009’ stipulates that everyone — from associate professors to principals — in all colleges/universities will come under the newly-introduced Performance Appraisal Scoring System (PASS) and Academic Performance Indicator (API). UGC sources said the regulation would be finalised in March after receiving feedback from universities and teacher associations.

Simply put, they will be evaluated on various criteria. For instance, a professor who excels in developing new technologies for teaching and satisfies the required number of hours for teaching will get 150 points. While 200 points has been earmarked for student mentoring, professional activities (being a member of board or committee) will earn him/her 50 points. And then there are points for familiarity with up-to-date teaching material too.

To ensure that the best get into teaching, direct recruitment will be only through merit and selection committees will be headed by the vice-chancellors themselves. On its part, the UGC will draw up a national subject expert bank and colleges/universities must include the expert while appointing a professor. “The idea is not aimed at policing the education system but to bring in quality in our higher education system. Universities can develop a weightage formula. But UGC will seek a compliance report every year from the universities on the performance. We have sought feedback from the stakeholders,” UGC sources told TOI. P

redictably, university teachers are not happy with UGC’s diktat. Said B G Bhaskara, treasurer of the Federation of University and College Teachers’ Associations in Karnataka, “There are too many conditions, especially for recruitments at the college level. They are not practical. Some measures like performance indicators are needed but why is the teaching community targeted? Didn’t state and central government employees too benefit from the 6th Central Pay Commission?”

UGC warns against 22 fake Universities

JHAJJAR, HARYANA: There are a total of 22 fake universities functioning across the country with Uttar Pradesh having as many as nine of such institutions and Delhi running a close second with six, says a UGC report. The University Grant Commission (UGC) recently released a list of 22 fake universities that have reportedly been functioning in contravention of the UGC Act in different parts of the country. Uttar Pradesh led the chart with nine fake universities followed by national capital Delhi that has six. One each in Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bangal have also been declared fake by the UGC. Besides, recognition of degrees like B Ed/ M Ed awarded by the Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow is still sub judice. As fake institutions are not created through legislation, many of them could be registered as societies under the Societies Registration Act with the object of running educational programmes and conferring degrees, sources said.

According to the UGC Act, only those universities that have been established under an Act of Parliament or state legislature or granted a deemed university status under Section 3 of the UGC Act are entitled to call themselves universities and confer degrees. Contravention of these provisions of Section 22 and 23 of the UGC Act attract penalty under Section 24 of the Act.

The universities that have been declared fake in Uttar Pradesh are Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, Prayag (Allahabad); Indian Education Council of UP (Lucknow); Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag (Allahabad); National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy (Kanpur); Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal (Aligarh); Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan (Mathura); Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya (Pratapgarh); Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area Khoda, Makanpur (Noida) and Gurukul Vishwavidyala (Vridanvan). Fake institutions in Delhi are Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, Jagatpuri (Delhi); Indian Institute of Science and Engineering (New Delhi); Commercial University Ltd, Daryaganj (Delhi); United Nations University (Delhi); Vocational University (Delhi) and ADR-Centric Juridical University, Rajendra Place (New Delhi). Besides, Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga (Bihar); Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum (Karnataka); St Johns University, Kishanattam (Kerala); Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh); Raja Arabic University, Nagpur (Maharashtra); DDB Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi (Tamil Nadu) and Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine (Kolkata) have also been declared fake.
(Source : Times of India, 19th February 2009)

MANUUTA Protest Notice - 20th February 2009

Dear Colleague,

University Grants Commission has come out with a Draft Regulation for Notification on revision of Pay Scales for University teachers and others. In this regard, FEDCUTA has called for a strike of all its affiliated members to protest against the recommendations made therein. MANUUTA has decided to support this strike. I therefore request you to assemble in the lawns opposite the DDE Building tomorrow i.e., 20th February 2009 between 10.30 am and 11.30 am as a mark of solidarity with our fellow teachers from other Central Universities. Please do attend come and make this protest meet successful.

Warm regards,
Dr. Abdul Quayum
Gen. Secy, MANUUTA

MANUUTA feedback on the Draft Regulation for UGC Notification on revision of Pay Scales

Dear Dr. K C Pathak,

With reference to the Draft Regulation for UGC Notification on revision of Pay Scales made available on the UGC website, we the members of Maulana Azad National Urdu University Teachers’ Association (MANUUTA) want to draw your attention towards some important points as mentioned below:

The following points have to be reconsidered and modified in the UGC Draft Notification on Revision of Pay Scales, etc., 2009:

1. According to UGC Draft Notification, 2009, the items, 6.4.2., 6.4.3., and 6.4.4 referring to the incumbent Readers/Lecturers (Selection Grade) i.e., those who have completed 3 years on 1-1-2006 or after, their placement in the Pay Band IV is conditional and selection based on interview is made compulsory. It completely goes against the Rule 1 and Rule 2(viii) MHRD Recommendations, dated 31-12-2008.

2. As per the item nos. 6.4.2 - 6.4.4 of the UGC Draft notification, it appears that faculties currently working as Lecturer and Professor will be designated as Assistant Professor and Professor respectively but the incumbent Readers who have/or have not completed 03 years on 1.1.2006, will be designated as Reader after the implementation of the new pay scale system. Incumbent Readers/Lecturer (Selection Grade) will be re-designated as Associate Professor only on satisfying the required credit points in API/WP through PASS methodology through a duly constituted selection committee suggested for the direct recruitment of Associate Professors. We want to know why only incumbent Readers/Lecturers (Selection Grade) are being put on the acid test for satisfying the required credit points in API/WP and have to face the selection committee to achieve their designation as Associate Professor, when MHRD Recommendations clearly states that there will be only a three categories of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor?

3. All directly recruited Readers after 01.01.2006 should be re-designated as Associate Professors with retrospective effect. A distinction between a Reader by means of CAS and one who has been directly appointed has to be made. Hence, directly appointed Readers should be placed in Pay Band IV and called as Associate Professors as they have already faced a selection committee to get this position. It is totally unethical and unfair to make them again go through the same selection process to be redesignated as Associate Professors.

4. According to UGC Draft Notification, 2009, the Items, 5.1.8., 6.0.4., 6.1,0., 6.2.0., 6.3.0., 6.4.1 refer to the constitution of Selection Committees and the Selection procedures for different positions, which is same i.e., API and WP, PASS. When the Selection Committees and Selection Procedures are the same for all the categories of posts with the same pay scale, why this bias in respect of the incumbent Readers/Lecturer (Selection Grade)?

5. The CAS process with the system of API/WP/PASS is complicated and a faculty is forced to leave the classroom and engage him/herself for his/her personal career gains.

6. There is discrepancy in the post of Associate Professor according to Rule 4.3.0 a minimum of 8 years teaching experience is required for the direct recruitment on the post of Associate Professor. Whereas, under CAS an Assistant Professor has to spend 12 years in different AGPs to become an Associate Professor. Hence promotion to the post of Associate Professor through CAS be reduced to 8 years.

7. Assistant Professors who have completed their stipulated service in each AGP shall automatically be moved to the higher AGP till the eligibility of Associate Professor is reached, as there is no test or interview for promotions to the higher posts in the ministerial/administrative services.

8. The pay gap at the entry level of Assistant Professor and Associate Professor be reduced and made relatively reasonable.

With warm regards,

Dr. Abdul Quayum,

General Secy, MANUUTA

Friday, February 13, 2009

Minutes of the Third MANUUTA Executive Committee Meeting held on 13.02.09

The Third Executive Committee meeting of MANUUTA held on 13.02.09 decided the following with regard to the issue of recognition to MANUUTA by the University:

1. The President, MANUUTA will fix up a meeting with the University Regsitrar to discuss the approval of the Association. In the even of this meeting not getting the desired results, a GBM of MANUUTA will be called immediately to decide the next course of action which includes going on strike.

2. Further the EC authorized the MANUUTA office bearers to have a dialogue with the the Office bearers of MANUU Employees Welfare Association (MEWA- which is the Non-teaching employees association), to chalk out a joint action plan in the eventuality of a strike.

A resolution was passed whereby it was decided that an amount of Rs.200 be collected as admission fee from new members. This apart an amount Rs.350 be collected from all members once a year, beginning January 2009 for one year, as annual subscription.

With regards

Dr. Abdul Quayum

General Secretary, MANUUTA

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Info on Meeting held on 04.02.09

A meeting was held to discuss the anomalies regarding the new pay scale revision of Lecturers on 04.02.09. The response to the meeting was very poor and very few lecturers attended the meeting. However, the participants suggested representing to the UGC and MHRD for reduction of the anomalies in the pay scale of Lecturers/Asst Prof. and reduction in the pay gap between the Assoc Prof. and Asst Prof. They also suggested that promotion to the post of Reader be reduced to just 5 years rather than 12 years. MANUUTA is exploring the ways and means to represent these suggestions to the above authorities. MANUUTA is also waiting to receive further clarity regarding pay scales from the UGC so that some steps can be initiated.

Regards,
Dr. Abdul Quayum
Gen SecyMANUUTA

Monday, February 2, 2009

MANUUTA Special Meeting - 4th Feb, 2009

Dear Colleagues,


A special meeting of MANUUTA is being called on the 4th February , 2009 to discuss the pay-related anomalies and grievances of Lecturers. The meeting will be held at Room no. 208, Lecture Hall Complex at 3.30 pm. I request you to attend the same and contribute with specific suggestions.


Warm regards,
Dr. Abdul Quayum

General Secretary

MANUUTA