The Assam College Teachers' Association (ACTA) has announced a continuous statewide agitation from November 18.
The group is the top body of teachers in the state's provincialised colleges.
The association says the government has stayed silent on its 13-point charter of demands.
It says the government has not taken any effective step so far.
Key points
- The agitation starts on November 18 and will continue across Assam.
- The association has raised its 13 demands with the chief minister and education minister since October 7, 2024.
- Most demands follow University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, which the association says are already in place in almost every state.
- The association says it is still open to peaceful dialogue.
Why are teachers protesting again?
ACTA leaders, Dr Bipul Chakrabarty and Dr Parag Jyoti Mahanta, said the government's inaction has caused deep anguish.
They said the demands had been raised several times with no result.
The association also recalled an earlier meeting. At that meeting, the chief minister accepted the core issues as justified.
He asked for some time to act.
The leaders say more than one and a half years have passed since that assurance. They say nothing effective has happened yet.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
What were the demands, and what happened in October?
On October 30, college teachers across Assam suspended academic activities.
They held peaceful demonstrations over service and financial issues.
Two major demands were reopening the OM 2013 portal and scrapping the National Pension System.
The teachers want the Old Pension Scheme instead.
Apart from a plea for mutual transfers, which the association raised on humanitarian grounds, the leaders say all other demands match UGC norms.
So what happens next, and why does it matter?
ACTA has urged the chief minister to step in immediately. It wants a permanent solution through formal discussions.
The association warned it may intensify the movement if its long-pending dues are not secured.
It says the protest is also about the future of students.
Explainer
What happened before
- The association says it brought its demands to the chief minister and education minister several times since October 7, 2024.
- On October 30, college teachers across Assam suspended academic work and held peaceful demonstrations.
- The association says the chief minister accepted the core issues as justified, but no effective step has been taken since.
Why it matters
The protest could affect the academic year and the students who depend on these colleges.
What to watch next
- The association says its continuous statewide agitation will begin on November 18.
- It has urged the chief minister to intervene immediately so that the academic year is not harmed.
