Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: Over 200 part-time guest instructors of government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) from all across the state started an indefinite agitation today in the capital. They are demanding regularisation of their jobs.

President of the All Orissa Government Part-time Guest Instructors’ Association P. C. Behera alleged although there were 200-odd part-time instructors in the state, the government had decided to make fresh recruitment of contractual instructors.

He said a selection committee, formed under the Directorate of Technical Education and Training (DTET), Orissa, would soon publish an advertisement to fill up 335 contractual posts.

“The government has undermined our importance. We have been asked by the director of DTET to undergo another interview for the same post of part-time instructor despite possessing requisite qualifications and 10 to 15 years of service experience. We are strongly opposed to this illogical, coercive and inhuman process for ascertaining our existence,” said Behera.

One of the agitators, on the condition of anonymity, said: “We are going through emotional trauma. Despite several meetings with the industries minister, Raghunath Mohanty, we are yet to receive any assurance. “The government is saying that those who have crossed the age of 40 are not eligible for contractual posts. Our livelihood is being threatened. Our families are suffering.”

Another instructor said there were certain trades in government ITIs such as stenography, social studies, English and computer studies in which they have been engaged for years but no decision has been taken to contractualise them yet. 'We also demand restoration of those who have been removed from service for no reason,” he said.

Behera alleged there has hardly been any recruitment in their cadre in the past years and the part-time instructors had been serving on a full time basis. He said, on an average, they were paid Rs 9,300 per month. “We don’t want an increment. Until we are regularised, we should at least be recognised as contractual employees,” he said.

SHILPI SAMPAD

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: Over 200 part-time guest instructors of government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) from all over the state began an indefinite agitation today in the capital demanding regularisation of jobs.

President of the All Orissa Government Part-time Guest Instructors’ Association, P. C. Behera alleged although there are 200-odd part-time instructors in the state, the government has decided to go for fresh recruitment of contractual instructors. He said a selection committee formed under the Directorate of Technical Education and Training (DTET), Orissa, would soon publish an advertisement to fill up 335 contractual posts.

“The government has belittled our importance. We have been asked by the director of DTET to undergo another interview for the same post of part-time instructor despite requisite qualifications and having put in 10 to 15 years of service. We are strongly opposed to this illogical, coercive and inhuman process for ascertaining our existence,' said Behera.

One of the agitators, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are going through an emotional trauma. Despite several meetings with the industries minister, Raghunath Mohanty, we have not received any assurance. The government is saying those who have crossed the age of 40 are not eligible for contractual posts. Our livelihood is being threatened. Our families are suffering.”

Another instructor said there are certain trades in government ITIs such as stenography, social studies, English and computer studies in which they have been engaged for years but no decision has been taken to contractualise them yet. 'We also demand restoration of those who have been whimsically removed from service,” he said.

Behera alleged there has hardly been any recruitment in their cadre in the past years and the part-time instructors had been serving on a full-time basis. He said, on an average, they were paid Rs 9300 per month. “We don’t want any increment in pay. Until we are regularised, we should at least be recognised as contractual employees,” he said.