Maharashtra to pay 65,000 college staff salaries on 1st of every month
The state higher education department has ordered timely salary disbursal for aided college and university staff, even as 426 teachers in Nashik go unpaid
The Maharashtra government has taken a major decision that will bring relief to nearly 65,000 teachers and staff at non-government aided colleges and non-agricultural universities across the state. Director of Higher Education Dr. Shailendra Deolankar has issued clear instructions to divisional joint directors that regular salaries for all teaching and non-teaching staff will now be credited directly to bank accounts on the 1st of every month. New rules have also been announced for leave encashment and reimbursement of medical expenses. The decision is expected to ensure that staff at aided colleges and universities across the state receive their salaries on time every month.
To ensure salaries are not delayed for administrative reasons, the Higher Education Department has fixed a set schedule. Under this, all aided colleges and universities will be required to send their demand for the grant needed for regular salaries, honorarium for teachers working on a Clock Hour Basis (CHB), earned leave encashment and medical reimbursement to the directorate by the 20th of every month. This means every college and university will have to communicate its demand by this date each month so that the subsequent process is completed on time.
All this information will have to be sent under the signature of the respective head of office, so that grants can be approved in time through the government's BDS system. To maintain transparency, approval orders relating to earned leave encashment and medical expenses will also need to be attached. Colleges will also have to send a consolidated, college-wise statement every month after paying honorarium to CHB teachers. This will help identify exactly where any delay has occurred at any stage.
Implementation of the decision has already begun in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division. Divisional Joint Director Dr. Pankaja Waghmare said the August salary was credited on September 1 itself, showing that the new rules are already being implemented in the division.
Meanwhile, a different picture is emerging in Nashik district, where administrative negligence has left 426 teachers facing near-starvation. Teachers at 52 aided and partially aided primary schools in Nashik have not yet received their September salary. Despite the government granting a three-month deadline, the education department has failed to complete the "post shifting" process on time. The problem has also been compounded by technical issues with education officers' digital signatures. With salaries stalled during the festive season, the Khasgi Primary Teachers Mahasangh has taken an aggressive stance, expressing strong displeasure at the functioning of the education department.
