1,400 contractual JNTUH faculty demand regularisation, warn of indefinite stir

HYDERABAD: Close to 200 contract faculty members of JNTUH have been holding a lunch-hour protest since Monday, demanding the regularisation of services of 1,400 contractual faculty members from 12 universities across the state. On the fourth day of protests, they warned that they would go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met by the end of the week.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, B. Rajesh Khanna, faculty member and convener of Telangana All Universities Contract Teachers Association (T-AUCTA), said, "We have been working tirelessly for years. It's time the authorities acknowledge our dedication and regularise our services. As the state government is unable to bear our pay scale, coming under the UGC will help solve most of our problems," he said.

The protestors cited numerous instances where contractual faculty members have served for extended periods without any assurance of job continuity. "Our lives hang in the balance. Only regularisation can secure our livelihoods," said Ramana Marri, another protestor.

Authorities have been under increasing pressure to address the demands of the striking faculty members, who held the first phase of dialogues on September 4.

"We put different options before them and hope they will consider and come back with a fair and sustainable solution," said Prabhakar, another professor.

"They promised to get back with a solution on September 12. If they don't match our demands, we will be forced to sit here until all demands are met," Prabhakar said.

All eyes are now on the authorities as they grapple with the growing demands of the educators, who are determined to secure their rights for a 'brighter future for themselves and the institutions' they serve.