SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 22: The inaction of the Raj Bhawan has landed the teaching and non-teaching staff of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad and affiliated colleges of Bokaro in serious trouble.
The salary payment of all 10 constituent colleges and universities teaching and non-teaching staff has been held up for almost two months in the absence of the Finance Officer (FO). As a result, the beleaguered teaching and non-teaching staff of the university had to celebrate Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festival in penury.
Even the retired teachers of the university are gasping for survival as their pension payment is also held up.
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The FO post in BBMKU has been vacant since October 22 following the completion of Dr Munmun Sen’s tenure. But the Raj Bhawan has not filled up the post (FO) till November 22.
Notably, the Raj Bhawan on October 13 sacked Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Sukhdeo Bhoi on corruption charges and appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr PK Poddar as acting Vice-Chancellor duly but did not appoint the FO.
Teachers and non-teaching employees of the university are on the boil over non-payment of their salary.
A joint delegation of the PG Teachers Association and BBMKU Teachers Association led by Dr Bhagwan Pathak and Dr DK Singh met the officiating VC, Dr PK Poddar, on November 4 and requested him to ensure payment before Diwali and Chhath festivals.
Sources said the VC had gone to Ranchi in this regard. “Thereafter, the Raj Bhawan sought four names from the university to select FO and authorities duly sent it as salary payment was held up. But officials in Raj Bhawan have not taken any decision on it,” sources added.
“Our Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath all passed in penury. We are surprised that the Raj Bhawan appointed VC ( BBMKU) and Registrar (Kolhan University) but has no concern for appointment of FO in BBMKU,” said Dr Jitendra Aryan, spokesperson of the outgoing BBMKU Teachers Association.
Retired teachers of the university are also gasping due to held-up pensions. Dr SKL Das, a retired senior teacher said that in the absence of FO in the university not only pension but payment of 7th pay scale gratuity is also held up.
“Raj Bhawan should take the pension of retired teachers and their gratuity payment seriously and appoint the FO,” he said.
