Guest lecturers warn of fresh protest in Karnataka over job security

Hubballi : Even as job aspirants across Karnataka intensify protests demanding government recruitment, guest lecturers in government colleges have now threatened to launch another round of agitation against the state government. The lecturers say they will be forced to stage a large-scale protest if their demands regarding job security are not addressed soon.

The state recently witnessed a massive protest in Dharwad where thousands of job aspirants gathered demanding immediate government recruitment. While the government assured that recruitment notifications would be issued soon, protestors warned that they would intensify their agitation if the process is delayed further.

Amid this growing unrest, guest lecturers working in government colleges have now raised their concerns. According to the association of guest lecturers, more than 6,000 lecturers have not been appointed this academic year, allegedly citing new norms issued by the University Grants Commission.

As a result, many lecturers who had been teaching for years are currently without work for the past three months. They claim that the sudden implementation of UGC rules has left thousands of lecturers struggling to sustain their livelihood.

State president of the guest lecturers’ association, Dr. Hanumanthagouda, said many lecturers have served in government colleges for nearly two decades but are now facing uncertainty. “We have worked as guest lecturers for nearly 20 years. Now we are being denied opportunities citing new rules. It has become difficult for us to manage our daily lives,” he said.

The association has urged the state government to consider their situation and provide job security until the age of 60. They also clarified that they are not insisting on UGC-level salaries but only seeking state-level pay and continuity of service.

The lecturers warned that if the government fails to respond, they will organise a padayatra from Tumakuru to Bengaluru and launch an indefinite protest at Freedom Park in the state capital.

With job aspirants and guest lecturers both preparing for agitation, the government may soon face mounting pressure over employment issues in the state.