SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, August 24: Teachers at Kolhan University (KU), Chaibasa, are set to receive their long-overdue payments and annual increments soon. This development follows a meeting between the Kolhan University Teachers Association (KUTA) delegation and the university’s vice-chancellor (V-C), Hari Kumar Kesri, and registrar Dr. Rajendra Bharti.
The delegation, led by KUTA president Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh and general secretary Dr. Indal Paswan, raised concerns about several pending issues, including annual increments for teachers appointed in 2022 and beyond.
UGC recommendations
Despite UGC recommendations, these increments have been delayed, while other universities in the state have complied with the 7th pay scale, which mandates increments within six months.
The V-C took serious note of it and assured that the matter would be put up in Syndicate after informing the HRD.
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Promotion files and examination charges
The delegation also highlighted that the university had not forwarded the teachers’ promotion files to the JPSC for the past one year. Teachers from the 2008 batch have been waiting for their first promotion for 12 years due to this delay.
“The university has not sent the promotion file of teachers to the JPSC for the last one year. Teachers of the 2008 batch are most affected by this apathetic attitude of the university. They have been waiting for 1st promotion for last 12 years,” pointed out KUTA general secretary Dr Paswan at the meeting.
The V-C has promised to send the files to the JPSC within 10 days after obtaining consent from the Raj Bhawan.
Additionally, the KUTA raised issues regarding unpaid answer book evaluation charges and examination invigilation remuneration. For the past three years, college teachers have not received these payments, nor have they been compensated for travel expenses incurred while collecting answer books from the university.
“In the absence of a centralized evaluation centre, teachers have to go to university themselves to receive answer books but they are not paid TA/ DA”, said Dr Paswan.
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Assurances and upcoming meetings
The V-C has assured that these matters will be addressed in a meeting with principals, examination department officials, and the finance department in the first week of September.
The V-C also promised that women teachers and staff would receive childcare leave as per UGC 2018 regulations and state government norms.
The delegation also urged the V-C to expedite the publication of the PhD entrance examination results.
Alongside the V-C and the registrar, finance officer Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh, regional secretary Dr. VK Singh, Dr. AK Rawani, and Dr. Shibhit Ranjan were present at the meeting.
