St. Bede’s Lecturers’ Association President Ajay Sud and Mathew Kuriakose, President, Non-Teaching Staff Association of the college met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and demanded his intervention to break the stalemate between the Management of St. Bede’s College and them by directing the State Education Department to intervene in the matter and get the issues resolved in the best interest of students and staff of the college.
Chief Minister said that St. Bede’s College happened to be one of the oldest and premier girls’ education centre, which had acclaimed International recognition and had produced a large number of professionals who had earned laurels not only to the college but to the State and the country as well. He said that the State Government had launched different schemes aimed at ensuring education to every girl child by making their education free from lowest to the highest level besides awarding them merit cum need based scholarship facilities. He said that keeping in view the reputation of St. Bede’s College, the State Government had been granting 95 percent grant to the college to manage its financial affairs. Besides, State Government had been liberal in issuing grant-in-aid to such educational institutions and nothing was due to be paid to St. Bede’s College. He said that studies of the students should not be hindered and college management should have sorted out all problems in consultation with the teaching and non-teaching employees.
Prof. Dhumal directed the Secretary Education and Director of Education to convene meeting of both the parties and resolve the crisis on priority so that normal classes were resumed in the college. He said that it was the responsibility of the College Management to protect the interests of its employees as well and pay them all the benefits due to them from time to time. He assured the delegation of all possible help in the matter from the State Government. K. Sanjaymurthy, Secretary Education and Dr. Dinkar Burathoki, Director of Education were also present on the occasion.
