Fix fund woes of 12 colleges: LG VK Saxena to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena wrote to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's office on Friday to address various concerns raised by the 12 DU colleges funded by Delhi government.
The letter follows representations made to the LG by National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF), a teacher's group affiliated with BJP, and Delhi University Principals' Association (DUPA). Besides salary issues, they highlighted that the non-disbursal of funds had even made the colleges' physical infrastructure unsafe due to lack of repair. On February 23, the LG secretariat also wrote to the chief secretary for a safety check of these premises and told him to report back in 15 days.
Delhi government provides 100% funds to 12 DU colleges, including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Bhagini Nivedita, Acharya Narendra Dev and Bhim Rao Ambedkar College.
NDTF submitted a representation to the LG on February 7 regarding non-payment of salaries and curtailing of funds. "NDTF said the funds of these 12 colleges were unduly cut and delayed by Delhi government, which has resulted in an inordinate delay in the disbursal of salaries to the staff for the last five years. It said that on many occasions, salaries were not paid to the teachers and staff for two to four consecutive months," said a statement issued by the LG's office.
According to it, NDTF has underlined that even in the revised estimates passed recently by Delhi government, the funds have been cut by nearly Rs 113 crore. "They also alleged harassment by the members/chairpersons of the governing bodies of these colleges appointed by the government. It requested the LG to issue directions to the government to release the full funds... that have been pending for the last five years," the statement added.
DUPA submitted its representation on February 15, stating these colleges are not even in a position to pay the salary for the 3rd and 4th quarter of the FY 2022-23, the statement added. "The funds released by Delhi government were inadequate to meet the expenditure already due in respect of retirement benefits, medical reimbursements, 7th Pay Commission arrears, promotion arrears, etc," it pointed out.
The issue of the non-payment of funds have been going on for a few years now. Earlier, the teachers of these 12 colleges moved Delhi High Court, while the government ordered inquiries against a few of the principals for alleged embezzlement of funds.