Hyderabad: BJP State President N. Ramachandar Rao has demanded that the Congress government and Osmania University (OU) authorities immediately hold talks with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of striking non-teaching employees. He called for a swift resolution of their long-pending issues.
Rao visited the protest camp outside the OU Administrative Building on Wednesday. He expressed solidarity with the non-teaching, technical, time-scale and contractual staff. They are demanding restoration of pension benefits, regularisation of services, better wages and healthcare facilities.
He criticised the university administration for neglecting employees who served the institution for decades on meagre salaries. They had no job security or adequate retirement benefits, he said. He also questioned why the administration has not implemented equal pay for equal work. In his view, it has also failed to regularise contractual and time-scale employees despite their 25-30 years of service.
Pension and reimbursement demands
Rao demanded restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees appointed between 2001 and 2004. He also called for CPS implementation for those appointed after 2004 and cancellation of the LIC-linked pension system. He wants medical reimbursement raised from Rs.10,000 to Rs.30,000. He further demanded clearance of pending promotions and departmental notifications.
The BJP leader condemned the disciplinary action against protesting employees. He cited the suspension of former association president Professor Manohar as an example of the administration’s high-handedness.
Rao recalled his own association with OU, where he pursued MA and LLB and where his father served as a professor. He said this gave him a responsibility to protect the university’s dignity. He warned that the BJP would intensify its support for the agitation if the administration does not address the demands immediately.
BJP State General Secretary Gautam Rao, former professors and student leaders accompanied him. University employees’ association representatives and OU JAC leaders also joined him.