Anna University teaching fellows stage ‘silent protest’ after working hours

CHENNAI: Teaching fellows (TFs) in Anna University staged a “silent protest” on the campus on Monday evening reiterating their demands.

The university recruited over 250 TFs on a contract basis to handle engineering subjects and humanities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The TFs are seeking regularisation of their service and re-designation of their posts as assistant professors (on contract).

On Monday evening, after completing their day’s work, the teaching fellows gathered near the main gate of the university form 5pm to 8pm to press for their demands. They called it a “silent protest” – there were no placards and sloganeering. On February 5, they gathered outside the vice-chancellor’s office after working hours and observed a similar silent protest.

The TFs protested the university's move to drop them from exam-related activities citing safety concerns.

Some of them had earlier moved the Madras high court, and the court directed Anna University not to terminate TFs until their tenure ends.

Shanmugha Perumal, one among the protesters, said, “Our educational qualifications are on a par with assistant professors. We work more than them but are paid less. TFs earn around Rs 25,000 per month whereas assistant professors are paid Rs 60,000 per month.”