All Bengal University Teacher's Association observes ceasework at JU over shortage of grants from UGC

Kolkata: All Bengal University Teacher's Association (ABUTA) observed ceasework and protests at Jadavpur University alleging shortage of grants from University Grants Commission (UGC) for research and alleged saffronisation of education by the central government. The agitation started in front of Aurobindo Bhavan, the administrative building at JU on Friday afternoon and classes were suspended as a section of researchers, students, librarariians and non-teaching staff also joined the agitation of ABUTA.

The Graded Autonomy Regulations of UGC was set on fire as a token protest at the beginning of the agitation.

A senior ABUTA member said the teachers' ceasework is to safeguard the interest of public-funded universities and press for the withdrawal of the graded autonomy regulation of the University Grants Commission (UGC). "The graded autonomy was aimed at taking away the right to education of common people. The Centre has been trying to commercialise and privatise higher educational institutions in the country and vest their functioning power with itself," the member said. The teachers' organisation demanded that the state-aided university teachers be given Dearness Allowance on par with those of central universities. We want the immediate repealing of the West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017. It is a "black act", a member added

"In the name of granting autonomy, is the Centre urging universities like Jadavpur to open self-financing courses, denying opportunities to students from the poorer families?" a ABUTA member questioned adding that the universities are being prodded to work means of procuring funds on their own.