Hundreds of guest lecturers are staging a protest in the City fearing as their jobs are at stake. With a new order that the education department has passed, only those with a National Eligibility Score and doctorate are to be considered for the post. 

Going by the Karnataka State Guest Lecturers' Association, the jobs of at least 4,500 guest faculty is now at stake and many fear they would not be able to make a living.

The state has 4,800 faculty working on a permanent basis while 13,558 have been taken on the role of guest lecturers. The recent order , following which they might be forced to leave, has left many, a worried lot. 

N Srinivasachar, president, Guest Lecturers’ Association said that there are many, for whom it means livelihood. “There are faculty who work for a meager Rs 400. Some others are paid as high as Rs 11,000. For them, it means bread and butter,” he added. 

The Association has placed before the department, a memorandum seeking that those guest faculty who have been hired till the previous year be retained on their respective posts while the rules apply for new recruits. Previously, these guest lecturers were appointed on merit basis. 

As per UGC norms, Srinivasachar claimed that only NET scores would be applicable. “PhD is a criteria for increment and service only as per new UGC norms. We have requested the department to consider the same,” he added.