Saturday, June 5, 2010

Letter to Odisha CM by Vision Kalahandi 2010

TO,

Sri Navin Pattnaik
Hon,ble Chief Minister of Odisha Dated 20th May 2010
Govt, of Odisha Bhubaneswar

Sub - Mass Transfer of Teachers of Govt. Colleges of Odisha is detrimental to the interest of the Govt. Autonomous College,Bhawanipatna and Govt. Womens College, Bhawanipatna

Hon,ble Sir,
Recent announcement of the Department of Higher Education, Odisha for mass transfer of Govt. College Teachers has caused a thrilling among the intellectuals, students and general public of Kalahandi who are concerned with the well - being of Govt. Autonoumous College, Bhawanipatna, the premier institute of Higher Education of undivided Kalahandi district.. Already this College has suffered from vacancies of more than 55 % of the total sanctioned teaching posts and nearly 80% of non – teaching posts since last 7 – 8 years. Moreover, there is no regular Principal in the College for the last 10 years and the senior most teachers who are on the verge of their retirement use to remain incharge of the office. As the teachers transferred from other regions are reluctant to join in KBK districts, particularly in Govt. Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna and the incumbents of the office are getting their transfer easily and the substitutes do not join, this College would be the worst sufferer in the event of the proposed mass transfer and it is feared that the gate of the College would be closed. Since it is a very sensitive issue and involves the destiny of thousands of young students and aspirations of the parents in this educationally backward region, I would like to draw your kind attention to consider the following few facts before taking a hasty decision that arises out of a small incident in some part of the state. The situation of Government Colleges is not the same in all parts of the state and one shoe fits everyone should not be the basis of transfer. Authorities in the Dept. of Higher Education should also take into consideration the ground realities of Govt. Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna and Govt. Womens College, Bhawanipatna. Therefore, Vision Kalahandi 2020 put forth before your Govt. the following few humble suggestions and demands to keep the interest of Govt. [Auto] College Bhawanipatna as well as Govt. Womens College, Bhawanipatna.

Before going to the core of the subject, let me brief about VISION KALAHANDI 2020. This is a non - political Forum formed in Kalahandi after the failure of Central University Movement organized by the intellectuals during 2008-2009. The Forum believes that State and Centres step- motherly attitude towards Kalahandi and Nuapada districts is the root cause of its present misery. The Forum includes within its fold Political activists irrespective of party affiliation, Youths, Students, Professionals and Social Activists. The forum has prepared Vision Documents on Kalahandi and Nuapada for 2020 in the perspective of Higher Education and Research, Industry, Communication, Health, Agriculture - Irrigation and other allied subjects relating to the life of more than 25 lakhs denizens of Kalahandi and Nuapada districts. The Forum would endeavour to implement these visions. The means the Forum has resolved to adopt is twofold - First demand before the Govt through Petition and next spearhead massive Peoples Movement.

Thus, the Vision Kalahandi 2020 demands the following before your Govt for the well- being of Govt, Autonomous College Bhawanipatna and Govt. Womens College Bhawanipatna as part of its Vision Document - Higher Education and Research.

1. Teachers, who are not interested for transfer from Govt. Colleges of KBK districts should not be disturbed.

Justifications -
[A] In 2004, Govt. [Auto] College, Bhawanipatna obtained C.P.E Status from the U.G.C and started many Technical subjects and M.Phil. Courses. Teachers’ undergone training to teach the Technical subjects. If they will be transferred, their post cannot be filled up and the subjects will be abolished. Teachers are guiding M.Phil Dissertation for batch 2010 M.Phil. Students. It is learnt that Research topics are allotted to the students and in the event of the transfer of the Guide [ Lecturer/ Readers] M.Phil students are likely to suffer.

[B] If a teacher is not interested for transfer and if against him / her there is no allegation by the Principal or Students, What is the harm if he / she continue to serve in the College for more than six years?

[C] Department of Higher Education has no regular transfer policy since petty long time. All of a sudden, if transfer of teachers having six years tenure of office in a particular station will be affected, then all teachers of these Colleges would be relieved and their relivers would not join as it is happening since last three decades and in that case these Colleges would collapse.

[D] Meritorious Guest Faculties are not available for the Colleges of KBK districts and the situation is worst in Kalahandi and Nuapada.

2. Teachers who are interested for transfer after completion of six years must not be relieved unless their reliever joins first.

Justifications –
[A] Personal experience of more than twenty years in the past in Leading Colleges of Kalahandi and Bolangir districts, both as Teacher and Principal establishes the fact that in Colleges of KBK regions invariably if a teacher is transferred from this zone, his / her reliever never joins and the post remains vacant for years together. Evidently at present there are more than 58% teaching posts are laying vacant in Govt. [ Auto] College, Bhawanipatna and more than 60% teaching posts are vacant in Govt. Womens College, Bhawanipatna..

[ B] Six years criteria of station seniority for transfer should be stringently applied for all time to come and it should be automatic. So that a teacher transfer to these Colleges would prefer to join in the hope of his transfer to desired place after serving for six years.

3. Filling of all Vacant Posts including the post of Principal

Justifications-
[ A] Teaching profession is different from other kind of job. The job is sensitive as the subject itself. If undue workload is imposed on teachers, he / she may not perform the duty whole heartily. In that case standard of teaching deteriorate.

[ B] As suitable Guest faculties are not available for these Colleges. As such, filling up vacant posts of Lecturer / Reader should be given priority instead of transfer on the basis of six years station seniority.

[C] Maximum Teaching posts of Govt. [ Auto] College remained vacant from 2005, just after the College obtained C.P.E Status. Department of Higher Education indiscriminately started transfer from this College disregarding the U.G.C norms and conditions that Teacher of C.P.E College should not be transferred for three years from the date of the effect of C.P.E. Thus, maximum teaching posts remained vacant and still remain vacant.

[D] College administration is something different from general administration. The incumbent of the office must be a regular one, so that he / she would administer the institution effectively. Regular Principal Post has been lying vacant in Govt. [Auto] College since last seven years. The Dept. of Higher Education is totally callous to this problem.

Vision Kalahandi 2020 thus demands before your government to adopt the above proposals due to the ground reality of these two Govt. Colleges for its well - being, which caters the higher educational needs of Kalahandi - Nuapada districts.

Sincerely Yours

Dr, A.K Nanda
Convenor
Vision Kalahandi 2020
AT / Po - Bhawanipatna
Sitaburdy, I.T.I Road, A.K Nanda lane, Dist - Kalahandi [ Odisha]


Copy to Hon,ble Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha for information and necessary action
Copy to the Commissioner – Cum – Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education for information and necessary action.
Copy to the Director, Higher Education for information and necessary action.


Dr, A.K Nanda
Convenor
Vision Kalahandi 2020

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