OU Non-Teaching Staff Rally For Pensions, Promotions
An increase in medical reimbursement from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 and resolution of other demands raised by employee unions were also part of the charter.
Hyderabad:Osmania University non‑teaching employees on Wednesday held a rally from the Arts College to the administrative building, demanding restoration of pension benefits, regularisation of contract staff, promotions and settlement of long‑pending dues.
The rally was organised by the Osmania University Non‑Teaching Joint Action Committee (JAC). Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and BJP state general secretary Gautam Rao visited the protest camp and expressed solidarity with the employees. Rao said the BJP would support the agitation and intensify its involvement if the demands were not addressed. He also called on the university administration and state government to hold talks with JAC representatives.
The employees raised 10 demands, including implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for those appointed between 2001 and 2004 and removal of the ‘kept in abeyance’ status. They also sought implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for employees appointed after September 1, 2004.
Other demands included filling vacant subordinate‑level posts through internal promotions, covering non‑gazetted, technical and association posts, and promotions to assistant registrar and university building division officer positions.
The JAC demanded that contract employees be “regularised immediately or given time‑scale pay.” It also sought payment of pending Employees’ Provident Fund dues and restoration of the ₹1,500 annual enhancement for contract employees, which it said had been stopped in April 2023, along with arrears.
The employees further demanded restoration of retirement and post‑death financial benefits of ₹3 lakh and ₹4 lakh, respectively, for time‑scale employees whose benefits were stopped in October 2023. They sought relief for 41 employees who died in service and eight who retired.
An increase in medical reimbursement from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 and resolution of other demands raised by employee unions were also part of the charter.
Separately, the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE), in a notice to university registrars, asked institutions to examine complaints of teaching and non‑teaching staff being removed without prior notice or adherence to prescribed rules.
TGCHE secretary Prof. Sriram Venkatesh directed universities to ensure that institutions and affiliated colleges followed UGC, AICTE and other applicable regulations. The council cautioned that arbitrary termination could affect employees’ service conditions, principles of natural justice and the academic environment.
