While pre-university college principals and lecturers are demanding an increase of Rs. 2,500 in their basic pay, the State government is trying to negotiate with them and has offered an ex gratia of Rs. 500.
Over the last two days, Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar held two rounds of talks with representatives of PU lecturers and principals’ association and tried to find a middle path, but the protesters refused to relent. “The government is trying to negotiate with us and is offering to pay an ex gratia of Rs. 500. We, however, are firm on our demands and want the government to implement the G. Kumar Naik committee report. We will not relent until then,” a lecturer said.
Department of Pre-University Education sources said that implementing the committee report would cost the State exchequer Rs. 250 crore annually, the Finance Department, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was not planning to implement it for now. Department sources said the best “interim” relief they could provide was ex gratia of Rs. 500 to lecturers and Rs. 400 to high school teachers, which would cost the exchequer Rs. 50 crore annually.
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On Thursday, Mr. Ratnakar held the meeting with the lecturers in the presence of the MLCs representing teacher’s constituency. Later, the MLCs met the Chief Minister.