Delhi Govt Releases Much Awaited Grant for Salaries in DU, Colleges Term it Insufficient

The Delhi Government on Wednesday, March 26, released the much awaited grant for pending salaries of the teachers and non-teaching staff of 12 colleges affiliated to Delhi University and are fully funded by it. The teachers have been struggling for their salaries for two consecutive months following a dispute over the formation of governing bodies in colleges funded by the Delhi Government.

In an order by the Directorate of Higher Education, the Department approves, “the release of an amount of Rs 40,75,00,000 (Rs Forty Crores Seventy Five Lakhs only) as balance payment of 3rd/final instalment of grant-in-aid to 100% funded colleges under Delhi Government under Demand no. 6 revenue head as per the details given below for current financial year 2019-20.” The grant is likely to bring relief to teachers and non-teaching staff who were eagerly waiting for their salaries amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding to the move, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) President Rajib Ray, in a letter to Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, said, “We hope that colleges will receive grants without further delay so that employees can receive salaries pending since January.”

He added, “Grants sanctioned are merely enough for covering salaries of the past two months. If so, we request that the Directorate of Higher Education may be asked to enquire into the same and to release adequate grants to cover all pending dues including salaries, reimbursements and arrears due to employees on account of the 7th Pay Revision and for adequate infrastructure development and maintenance.”

Also read: Coronavirus: Amid Pandemic, Delhi University Teachers Await Two Months’ Salary

However, the Principals of the colleges maintain the grants will hardly be enough for meeting the expenses. 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/June? I hope the Delhi Government releases the required grant soon.” 

The sanction order has awarded Rs 4.2 crore for salaries and Rs 40 lakh for other expenses to the college.

NewsClick has also learnt that Ambedkar College, too, is struggling with a similar situation but could not get an official word from the principal.

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.