Protests Erupt at Siliguri College and North Bengal University Over Administrative Decisions
Teachers and staff at Siliguri College and North Bengal University protest against administrative decisions, including pay disputes and concerns about academic achievement. Contractual and casual employees demand a promised pay increase at NBU, while teachers at Siliguri College challenge accusations of negatively affecting students' academic performance.
On Tuesday, teachers and staff at Siliguri College and North Bengal University (NBU) in this city staged protests and rallies against the administrations of their respective educational establishments over a variety of concerns.
The contractual and casual employees staged a protest on the NBU campus in Shivmandir, claiming that vice-chancellor C.M. Ravindran had promised them a 10% pay increase starting this month.
The VC issued an order on February 20th, stating that we will get reduced pay starting in March. On February 23, nevertheless, he apparently reversed the decision because the governor—who doubles as the chancellor of the varsity—said it was impossible. We have turned to demonstrations because of this, said Ranjan Roy, a joint convener of the Sara Bangla Trinamool Sikshabandhu Samiti's NBU section.
There are around 450 contract and temporary employees at the NU.
They gathered on Tuesday in front of the college administration building, yelling anti-VC and anti-governor C.V. Ananda Bose slogans. Bose and Ravindran's effigies were also set on fire by the demonstrators.
Roy said, "Let us be clear that we will be forced to launch a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in Calcutta if our demand is not met."
According to reports, the VC did not visit the varsity on Tuesday.
A portion of the teachers at Siliguri College resorted to protesting when the head of the college's management committee made a statement.
Protesters said that President Jayanta Kar had promised to take action to identify evasive instructors who were negatively affecting students' academic achievement.
Professor Vidyavati Agarwal reported that all classes were being held in accordance with schedule.
"The curriculum was finished well in advance of the test. The people who brought up this concern were a few of the less frequent visitors to the institution. For the sake of the pupils, we have given it our all. It is unacceptable to make such an accusation, Agarwal said.
But Kar asserted, "I haven't said anything. The governing committee spoke about the complaints the students had made. We are concerned about the outcomes of the college's first semester and will monitor students' progress moving forward," Kar said.
