IIT Faculty Federation gives 10-day ultimatum to HRD

Unhappy over the current pay structure, the IIT faculties today gave an ultimatum to the government till October to sort out the issue. The IIT Faculty Federation took a decision at its meeting on the issue at the institute's Kharagpur campus today.

"We wanted an amicable solution, which did not happen. We are compelled to go on hunger strike on Thursday. We want the government to sort out the issue by October one," professor M Thenmozhi, president of the federation, told PTI after the meeting.

She said that the federation will submit a detailed memorandum to the HRD ministry on the issue tomorrow. "In the memorandum, we will demand setting up a joint working group comprising representatives from the ministry, IIT directors and faculty representatives. Since it is already late, we are giving them time till October 1 to find a solution to the issue," she said.

Asked if there is no amicable solution to the issue even before the deadline, Thenmozhi said the federation will again meet after October 1 to decide on future course of
action.

The HRD ministry had notified the pay structure for Central Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs), including IITs and IIMs, on August 18. However, the IIT faculty opposed certain provisions, including 40% cap on promotion of professors to senior grade.