'We now wish to sit down and discuss things'

IIT teachers across the country will observe hunger strike on September 24, while attending classes as usual. Among other things, M Thenmozhi, President of the All-India IIT Faculty Federation, tells Pradipta Mukherjee why the federation has opted for this course of action. Edited excerpts:

What is your next step?
We are looking at a meeting with the HRD ministry in the first week of October. We have been submitting memoranda and the ministry has been revising orders. But we now wish to sit down and discuss things across the table and reach a consensus as soon as possible.

Any particular demands?
We want to retain the flexible cadre system, something we have been following for long, but was nullified by the ministry this month. Under this system, we could appoint and promote faculty depending on their performance, irrespective of their age and experience per se. For instance, a lot of brilliant lecturers and PhDs could become a professor by their early 30s. The revised orders from the ministry state that maximum 40 per cent of the professors can be promoted to senior grade depending on their performance. Also, four years of experience for assistant professors before they get a promotion is also redundant.

What about PhDs?
We want the entry-level stipend of PhDs to be at least Rs 38,000 per month, up from Rs 26,000 per month right now. Also, entry-level PhD lecturers should be allowed to join IITs as permanent professors, and not on a contractual basis for two-three years. Any contract lecturer, at such minimal salaries, will not stay with the institute for long.