Sambalpur: While authorities of the Sambalpur University are in dock over recent self-immolation of a contractual worker, Vice-Chancellor Sanjiv Mittal held an emergency meeting of the Syndicate Friday.
But contractual employees’ association questioned the legality of the syndicate meeting. Notably, police have booked the VC and some others for alleged involvement in the case.
The syndicate discussed the self-immolation of contractual worker Dinabandhu Mishra, his family’s demands and various demands of the contractual workers of the university.
However, contractual workers’ union has questioned on legality of the syndicate meeting presided over by the VC, an accused in the case.
The university syndicate meeting was presided over by VC Sanjib Mittal while the director of higher education department Aswhini Kumar Mishra, CDC director Ajay Behera, Sambalpur zonal director Dr Prabhabit Guru, took part in the meeting on virtual mode.
It was decided that all cooperation will be provided to police who are investigating the Dinabandhi Mishra’s self-immolation. The family of Mishra had demanded Rs 15 lakh as ex-gratia from the university.
The syndicate decided that Rs 8 lakh will be provided to the bereaved family while Rs 5.5 lakh has already been paid. Remaining Rs 2.50 lakh will be paid through a cheque.
The syndicate said, the family members must submit a written undertaking before taking the rest amount of ex-gratia that they will not indulge in anti-university activities.
Besides, it was decided that the state government will be intimated once steps are taken to address the demand of a contractual job to any member of the deceased’s family.
The university will consider the compensation demand of the family members of two contractual workers who had earlier committed suicide.
More importantly, the syndicate decided that it will hold talks with various employees’ associations on the demand of regularizing the jobs of contractual workers.
Secretary of contractual employees association, Satyanaryan Kar raised the question of legality of the meeting, saying that as the VC is an accused in the Dinabandhu self-immolation case, he has no right to chair the meeting.
He added that the contractual employees’ association will soon decide on the next course of action.
PNN
