From Pensions to Pay: Teachers protest in Varanasi demanding OPS, NEP 2020 revisions

Teachers from several states stage a sit-in protest at Lal Bahadur Shastri Ghat, Kachahari, Varanasi, today, September 13, demanding implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), uniform retirement age, and changes to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO) calls for the protest. AIFUCTO president M Nagarajan and general secretary Arun Kumar, addressing the gathering, said the government has not engaged in discussions with the federation despite repeated requests.

They stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is limiting access to higher education and paving the way for corporatisation. Members say that over the past five years, they have written letters, held protests, and organised symbolic campaigns, but no formal dialogue takes place.

“The agitated teachers strongly criticised the authoritarian attitude of the government and called upon fellow teachers to intensify the movement nationwide if the government does not take a decision on their just demands. They warned that teachers across the country would actively oppose this government,” the official press release said.

On August 19 to 21, teachers across the country observed a black badge protest, followed by dharnas on institutional premises. Earlier in May, AIFUCTO staged a sit-in in Bhubaneswar, the home state of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, to highlight their demands. Between August 9 and 31, members also sent letters to the ministry urging talks on NEP 2020 and related service matters.

Key demands of teachers

The main demands raised at the Varanasi protest include:

• Implementation of OPS for teachers.
• Uniform retirement age of 65 years nationwide.
• Permanent pay scales and service conditions in aided colleges.
• Restoration of the feeder cadre system in Uttar Pradesh.
• Release of pending 7th Pay Commission arrears.
• Implementation of MPhil and PhD increments as per 2018 UGC Regulations.
• Withdrawal of mandatory PhD for promotion to associate professor.
• Equal promotion opportunities and retirement age parity for physical education teachers.
• Restoration of medical leave provisions.
• Full pay scales and service conditions for guest faculty.

As per the official press release, following the protest, AIFUCTO’s National Executive Committee met at U.P. College, Varanasi, to review the situation and decide on future programmes. Leaders said if their demands remain unaddressed, the movement will be intensified.