Teachers’ unions flay UGC pay revision, call it the lowest ever

COIMBATORE: The Ministry of Human Resource Development on Thursday released the revised pay scale for college and university teachers, but teachers’ associations are unhappy with the “lowest hike in salary since independence”.

The Centre revised the pay scales on the recommendation of a pay review committee constituted by the University Grants Commission. It has continued the present system of three designations for teachers - Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. Vice Chancellors will get a fixed pay of `2.10 lakh with a special allowance of `5,000. Principals of undergraduate colleges will get a starting salary of `1,31,400 and principals of post-graduate colleges `1,44,200.

The announcement has belied the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of university and college teachers, putting in doubt the Central government’s sincerity and commitment to higher education, said All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO) president Kesab Bhattacharya and general secretary Arun Kumar.

AIFUCTO has been demanding 100 per cent Central assistance to states for uniform and simultaneous implementation of the revised UGC pay scales for the college and university teachers.
“Despite our demand and struggles on this issue, the Central government very callously and carelessly has declared only 50 per cent assistance to states, that too, only for 39 months, from January 2016 to March 2019,” they said in a statement.

AIFUCTO will convene a meeting of its national executive committee on November 11 to discuss and plan its future course of action. P Jayagandhi, former national secr etary of AIFUCTO, described it as the lowest hike in salaries after independence.

He also pointed out that till the last pay commission, the Centre’s contribution to the salaries was 80 per cent for 51 months. It has been now reduced to 50 per cent for 39 months, which may lead to some State governments delaying the implementation of the revised scale.

“The post of Grade 2 Principal was downgraded to Associate Professor and the special allowance for principals was not increased. The incentive for MPhil and PhD, which was increased from three increments in 1986 to four in 1996 and to five in 2006 has been scrapped now,” he added.

The pay review committee has recommended certain measures on methods of recruitment, promotion, a new performance assessment system, attracting and retaining talent and use of information and communication technology in teaching.The UGC will consider these recommendations and issue necessary regulations, added the MHRD notification.

AIFUCTO to chalk future course on November 11

The AIFUCTO will convene a meeting of its national executive committee on November 11 to discuss and plan its future course of action. P Jayagandhi, former national secretary of AIFUCTO, described it as the lowest hike in salaries after independence.