Dr. Banita Saklani, State President of HGCTA, meets CM to demand to address three major issues concerning college teachers.
Shimla:
The Himachal Pradesh Government College Teachers’ Association (HGCTA) State President, Dr. Banita Saklani met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday to discuss crucial matters concerning college faculty and express gratitude for the government’s commitment to improving higher education in the state.
Dr. Saklani emphasized the importance of implementation of the UGC Regulations 2018 and the notification of the Career Progression Scheme (CAS) at the earliest which will facilitate faculty promotions for the college cadre which have been on hold since 2021. Ensuring career advancement opportunities will not only uplift the teaching community but also contribute to academic excellence in the state.
Another key point of discussion was the provision of fully paid study leave for faculty members pursuing Ph.D. or post-doctoral research. She urged for an increase in the study leave quota from 1% to at least 3% and adopt a simplified approval process for sanctioning the leave.
She said Aligning study leave policies with UGC guidelines will encourage faculty members to enhance their qualifications, ultimately benefiting students and institutions alike.
“The issue of regularization of contract teachers twice a year was also placed before the Chief Minister. The contract employees are already working on 60% of the salary. Delayed regularization is causing academic and financial loss to them”, she remarked.
During the meeting, Dr. Saklani highlighted the need for additional staff quarters at Vallabh Government College, Mandi. She said there were 22 staff quarters at the institution twenty years ago, when there were only fifty employees. Today, there are only four quarters remaining, and there are over 110 teachers. Expanding these facilities would significantly enhance their well-being and efficiency.
“The Chief Minister has ensured that he will consider the demands and the association hopes that issues raised will be soon addressed” said Dr. Saklani.
