LARKANA: Normalcy returned to the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) after five days of unrest among its employees when the two sides reached an agreement on Tuesday.

The SMBBMU Employees Welfare Association had locked the offices, lecture halls and other rooms to disrupt normal academic and all other routine activities at the university to force the administration to accept their demands regarding better working conditions as well as fringe benefits, promotions etc.

Larkana SSP Masood Ahmed Bangash and Chandka Medical College Vice Principal Prof Saeed Ahmed Shaikh visited protesters’ camp at the college to hold negotiations with them.

It was learnt that a previous round of talks was held on Sunday to settle the issue. SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Prof Aneela Attaur Rehman, representatives of the association, teachers’ association, deans of various departments, the CMC principal and Larkana SSP were among those who took part in the negotiations.

Finally, on Sunday the stakeholders inked a 19-point agreement to bring an end to the strike.

It was decided to get the university’s residential quarters vacated from illegal occupants in the light of the relevant decision of the anti-encroachment tribunal, which has already issued notices to the occupants.

It was also agreed that the son/daughter quota in jobs would be increased from 20pc to 25pc but it was linked with a formal approval from the syndicate.

According to the agreement, the facility of health cards will be extended to the employees as consultation in this regard is under way; the matter regarding absorbing children of the employees against the 60 available seats that had been pending even after issuance of offer letters will be settled after seeking opinion of law secretary; for the grant of leave encashment, banned by the National Accountability Bureau, the institution will be approached for seeking a fresh order; the SSP will make personal efforts to get the recently appointed employees’ 15 months’ salaries released and the university management will seek finance secretary’s guidance in this regard.

The vice chancellor agreed to provide ambulances for the employees of the Chandka Medical College and Ghulam Mohammed Mahar Medical College, Sukkur, and promised grant of promotions in the light of the recommendations of the departmental promotion committee.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2019