Presidency University turned tense on Monday as teachers and non-teaching staff took to the campus streets, raising slogans against the state government’s move to introduce a centralised pension and gratuity system through the Directorate of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance (DPPGI). Around 200 staff members joined the protest march, voicing concern over the proposed change.
Staff protest pension rule despite relief
Protesters alleged that the new system is a direct blow to the retirement benefits of university employees and a calculated attempt to curb the autonomy of higher education institutions. Although the Higher Education Department later relaxed the rule until June 30, ahead of the elections, allowing universities to disburse retirement benefits without prior DPPGI approval. The temporary relief has failed to calm the anger among employees.
Staff demand full pension rights
The protesters asserted that the university, not the state directorate, is their employer. They demanded a written assurance that employees would receive 100 per cent of their retirement benefits on the day of retirement. They also called for the complete withdrawal of DPPGI guidelines and the continuation of the old pension system.
During the procession, Chemistry Department professor Arnab Haldar criticised the new policy, saying that pension commutation and leave encashment are personal legal rights of employees, and that introducing delays under the pretext of government approval effectively amounts to denying them those rights.
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He further described the proposal to release only 75 per cent of pension and gratuity as "provisional" as "unjust and unequal."
The protest saw participation not only from Presidency University staff but also from teachers of other institutions. Parthapratim Roy from Jadavpur University and Sanatan Chattopadhyay from Calcutta University joined the march in solidarity.
