more-in MADURAI Members of Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association (TNGCTA) staged a day-long fast here on Saturday as a mark of protest to highlight their demands including filling up of teaching vacancies in government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu. According to the TNGCTA, there are around 3,000 vacancies in more than 90 government colleges in the State. “The worst affected are the colleges catering to students from rural areas. For instance, there are only guest lecturers and no permanent teaching staff at the colleges in Tiruvadanai and Mudukulathur in Ramanathapuram district,” said R.A.F. Ajith, president, Madurai Zone of TNGCTA. The association members said while the State government was showing interest in opening new colleges and commencing new courses in existing colleges, similar interest was not being shown to fill the vacancies. Their other key demands included conversion of constituent colleges of all universities into government colleges without delay. “As per the announcement of the government, this was expected to come into force from this academic year. However, there are no signs of it happening anytime soon,” Mr. Ajith said. The members also appealed to the government to clear arrears in payment of increments in grade pay. Pointing out that a number of government colleges did not have compound walls, which led to safety-related issues, the association urged the government to release funds for construction of compound walls. It also demanded withdrawal of departmental action initiated against association members without conducting enquiries in a fair manner.

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