The Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government on March 25 sanctioned Rs 40.75 crore as the third instalment of grants to 12 colleges which are fully funded by the Delhi Government. In response, the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) had immediately written to Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's office saying that the amount was "far too less" for these 12 colleges to pay their staff. The DUTA has been demanding more funds since then and in its latest communication to the Deputy CM, the teachers demanded immediate release of the funds keeping in mind the torrid times we are in.
The DUTA said that three colleges have not been able to pay their staff since March and the others will join the club if the grants are not released immediately. "It is extremely unfortunate that employees of three colleges are yet to be paid salaries for March. If the grants are not released immediately, colleges will not be able to pay its employees from April onwards," said Rajib Ray, President of DUTA, adding that according to the order by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, all institutions have to pay salaries to its employees, even those working on a contractual basis during these times of unprecedented crisis.
The order on March 25 sanctioned Rs 37.50 crore for grant-in-aid salaries and Rs 3.25 crore in general grant-in-aid — a total of Rs 40.75 crore to 12 colleges. Maharaja Agrasen College was allocated the most (Rs 6.05 crore) and Bhagini Mahrshi Valmiki College of Applied Sciences the least (Rs 0.1 crore) in total. The grant was supposed to be transferred to the colleges through RTGS. But almost a month later there is no sign of the money.
