Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 11: Contrary to the optimistic anticipations of the stakeholders, the taking over of Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) by Jammu University has virtually turned out to be disadvantageous in respect of infrastructure for the students studying there as well as career growth of the teaching faculty.
Though the Poonch House Building was finally got renovated for housing IMFA again in this sprawling historical complex, the institute lacks basic infrastructure for the students of Fine Arts, who don’t have even the facility of drinking water, what to talk of essential tools like Easels, Display Boards, Camera, print making machine and Power Invertor, etc.
Further, around 50 percent posts of the teaching faculty are lying vacant as no fresh recruitment has been made in the institute since taking over of IMFA by Jammu University in 2010 while the existing staff has virtually slipped into depression because of stagnation as there is neither a policy on their promotion nor a clarity on their status of being a teaching faculty member.
As per JU nomenclature, this staff of IMFA has been designated as ‘Instructors’ whereas the same university has issued them Identity Card of Teaching faculty, who are imparting teaching to the students of Music and Fine Arts. Even as these Instructors cum teachers claim to be eligible for the post of Assistant Professors and some of them as Associate Professors and Professors, the Jammu University has kept their rank as Non-Gazetted. .
The JU nonchalance towards the grievances of IMFA teaching faculty can be gauged from the fact that the file pertaining to their case and recommendations for re-designating eligible Instructors as Assistant Professors, is allegedly not traceable in the university records for the last two years.
It may be recalled that the IMFA was transferred and renamed as School of Visual and Performing Arts Design and Architecture to the Jammu University in the 67th University Council meeting, held on February 25,2008 with the approval of conditions that all financial implications to be involved on account of transfer and former liability shall be met by the State Government whereas in respect of existing staff, no UGC qualification should be imposed though further recruitment shall be made as per university prescribed qualifications and the existing staff shall retain their scale and pay.
To discuss the qualification, Pay Scales and other aspects with respect to the posts of Instructors in the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Design and Architecture, the then Vice Chancellor had constituted a committee in 2014, headed by Prof Deshbandhu as its convener. After threadbare discussion, the committee resolved that nomenclature of the Instructors in various fields, to be appointed, be changed as Assistant Professors; the qualification, eligibility conditions and pay scales of the IMFA Instructors be adopted for them as prescribed by the UGC and the existing staff possessing the qualification and eligibility condition as prescribed by the UGC, be also designated as Assistant Professors and the pay scales as prescribed for Assistant Professors by the UGC be also adopted for such employees.
However, no further progress was made in this regard and according to the sources, file pertaining to this case is not traceable in the university for the last two years.
For being neglected by the JU, there is great resentment within the teaching faculty members of IMFA, who feel that the University should take up their issue with the University Grants Commission (UGC) for a one-time settlement so that they may get their due status of Assistant Professor and UGC benefits.
When contacted, Prof Deshbandhu Gupta, Dean Academic Affairs, JU, told the Excelsior that the university was going to fill up the vacant posts of teaching faculty in IMFA, as per UGC norms, very soon. “The University has also decided to declare IMFA as its constituent college and agenda items in this regard are being taken up in the university bodies for formal approval of the same,” he disclosed.
However, regarding the status of existing teaching staff (Instructors) and fate of recommendations of the committee, headed by him, Prof Deshbandhu only said that he had finished the task assigned to him as convener of the panel and it was up to the university to decide action on the recommendations.
The students in IMFA are also at the receiving end as the institute lacks necessary infrastructure and study material like newspapers, magazines etc in the library where both the posts of Librarian are lying vacant while study tour has not been conducted for the last six years. The students have no lockers to keep their painting material and tools while the only water cooler was installed in Music Wing of the Institute recently on the eve of NAAC team visit.
Both students and teachers alleged that there was no one to plead their case and highlight the grievances as the institute is not having a full fledged Principal for the last three years. Presently, the institution is being headed by incharge Principal, Poonam Chaudhary and earlier, it was Archana Kesar from the Dogri Department, Jammu University, who also acted as an incharge Principal of the institute.
In nutshell, the taking over of IMFA by Jammu University has turned out to be detrimental for the stakeholders, who feel discouraged over the mute response of concerned authorities towards burning issues of budding artists and their teachers.
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