DUTA wrote to the Deputy Chief Minister highlighting the inadequacy of the previous grant to cover employees’ salaries and pensions.
On 3rd April 2020, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) wrote to Shri Manish Sisodia, Minister of Education and Deputy Chief Minister, New Delhi regarding the inadequacy of the grant released by the government to 12 Delhi University colleges funded by the Delhi Government. The funds released on 30th March were said to be insufficient and many colleges were unable to pay the salaries and pensions of both teaching and non-teaching employees.
The Association had written to the Government on 26th March, requesting them to enquire into the insufficiency of funds after many colleges had alleged that the grant would only cover the salaries and other expenses for two months which had been due since January.
Hem Chand Jain, acting principal of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, told NewsClick, “Given the dues in form of arrears, property tax, salaries of teachers and non-teaching staff, we had expected an approximate grant of Rs 12-13 crore. But, with this amount we would be able to pay the salaries for January and February only. The salary of March which would be paid on April 1 cannot be covered in this amount. Additionally, we need to pay Rs 1.90 crore as Property Tax. Whether our electricity and water connections will continue or not in absence of payment, we do not know.”
He added, “Traditionally, we used to get grants in March for the salaries till June. How will we pay salaries till May or June? I hope the Delhi Government releases the required grant soon.” The sanction order, however, had awarded Rs 4.2 crore for salaries and Rs 40 lakh for other expenses to the college.
The reason for this crisis is said to be the tussle between the Delhi Government and the Delhi University administration regarding the appointment of governing bodies of the twelve colleges that are funded by the Delhi Government. The DU administration had rejected the names of the people that the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Delhi had suggested since they did not qualify the criteria that are in place to appoint members to the governing bodies. AAP, however, accuses the administration of creating roadblocks at the behest of the BJP Government in the Centre.
Delhi Government funds 28 colleges in all – 12 fully and 16 colleges partially. The 12 colleges are Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Science, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Shaheed Raj Guru College , Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Acharya Narendra Dev College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Keshav Maha Vidyalaya, Maharaja Agrasen College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Mahirishi Balmiki College of Education and Bhaskara Charya College of Applied Science.
Sixteen colleges that are partially-funded by the Delhi Government are Shivaji College, Motilal Nehru College, Laxmi Bai College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Maiteryi College, SPM College for Women, Satyawati College, Vivekanand College, Rajdhani College, Kamla Nehru College, Gargi College, Swami Shardhanand College, Kalindi College, Bharti College, Sri Aurbindo College and Delhi College of Arts and Commerce.
Image Credits: DU Beat Archives
Khush Vardhan Dembla
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