Teachers at Government Polytechnic Srinagar and 70 other government polytechnic institutions across Uttarakhand are wearing black armbands while continuing their departmental duties in protest against pending service-related demands.

The demonstration began on the call of the Uttarakhand Polytechnic Teachers’ Association. The association has issued the department a 2-day deadline and warned that teachers will move to a complete departmental work boycott if no positive decision is taken on their demands.

3 principal demands

Association president Prashant Dobhal said 3 major issues have remained pending for a long time. The first is the demand to withdraw the new Annual Confidential Report (ACR) format and the order requiring teachers to complete their ACRs again for the previous 2 years.

The association is also seeking timely benefits under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme for eligible teachers. It has called for the prompt resolution of cases related to the benefit that are still pending.

The third issue concerns the participation of teachers’ authorised representatives in discussions on service rules and policy decisions affecting teaching staff.

The association has alleged that its representatives are not being included when policies and service-related decisions concerning teachers are considered. It wants the department to consult the organisation before taking any policy decision connected with teachers’ interests.

Next stage of the protest

The black-armband demonstration is being treated as the first stage of the movement. Teachers are currently carrying out their departmental responsibilities while displaying their opposition through the protest.

The association has said the agitation will enter its next phase if the department does not make a positive decision within 2 days. That next phase, according to the warning, will involve a complete boycott of departmental work.

The proposed escalation could affect the functioning of the state’s government polytechnic system, although the material available does not specify which departmental activities would be affected or when the boycott would begin.

The immediate issue is therefore whether the department responds to the association’s demands within the stated deadline. The dispute covers ACR procedures, MACP benefits, pending cases and the association’s role in policy discussions.

Conclusion

Teachers at 71 government polytechnic institutions are continuing their duties with black armbands while seeking action on 3 long-pending demands. The association has given the department 2 days before considering a complete departmental work boycott.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which teachers are taking part in the protest?

Teachers at Government Polytechnic Srinagar and the state’s 71 government polytechnic institutions are participating in the black-armband protest.

Q. What is the current form of the protest?

Teachers are wearing black armbands while continuing to perform their departmental duties.

Q. What deadline has the teachers’ association issued?

The Uttarakhand Polytechnic Teachers’ Association has given the department 2 days to take a positive decision on the demands.

Q. What could happen if the demands are not accepted?

The association has warned that teachers will begin a complete departmental work boycott.

Q. What is the demand concerning ACRs?

The association wants the new ACR format and the order to refill ACRs for the previous 2 years to be withdrawn.

Q. What are the teachers seeking under MACP?

They want eligible teachers to receive MACP benefits on time and pending cases to be resolved quickly.

Q. What role does the association want in policy decisions?

It wants authorised representatives to be included in discussions before decisions affecting teachers’ interests are taken.